Using AI-driven robots to help college students with anxiety stick to their therapy
Official title: SCH: Personalized AI-Driven Models for Supporting User Engagement and Adherence in Health Interventions: Validation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11064932 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how friendly robots can help college students with anxiety stick to their therapy exercises, especially after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, by making the experience more engaging and supportive.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $299,999 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH139134-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064932 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are college students aged 21 and older who are experiencing anxiety and are undergoing CBT.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently engaged in CBT or those outside the college age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve adherence to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for college students struggling with anxiety, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. By developing personalized socially assistive robots (SARs), the project will explore how these robots can encourage students to complete their CBT exercises between sessions. The approach includes collaborative design sessions and user studies to gather feedback and refine the robots' functionalities, ensuring they effectively support users in their therapy journey. The goal is to enhance engagement and compliance through tailored interactions based on user feedback and behavioral cues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the effectiveness of CBT for anxiety by ensuring students adhere to their therapy exercises.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using socially assistive robots in various therapeutic contexts, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mataric, Maja J — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Mataric, Maja J
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.