This paper is published in Volume-12, Issue-1, 2026
Area
Psychology
Author
Kavika Singhal
Org/Univ
Paul George Global School, New Delhi, India
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, Therapeutic Chatbots, Adolescent Mental Health, Social Validation, Emotional Dependence, Human-AI Interaction, Reward Circuitry.
Citations
IEEE
Kavika Singhal. Predicting Adolescent Psychological Outcomes of Therapeutic Chatbot Use by Integrating Neuroscience, Chatbot, and User Behaviour, International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology, www.IJARIIT.com.
APA
Kavika Singhal (2026). Predicting Adolescent Psychological Outcomes of Therapeutic Chatbot Use by Integrating Neuroscience, Chatbot, and User Behaviour. International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology, 12(1) www.IJARIIT.com.
MLA
Kavika Singhal. "Predicting Adolescent Psychological Outcomes of Therapeutic Chatbot Use by Integrating Neuroscience, Chatbot, and User Behaviour." International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology 12.1 (2026). www.IJARIIT.com.
Kavika Singhal. Predicting Adolescent Psychological Outcomes of Therapeutic Chatbot Use by Integrating Neuroscience, Chatbot, and User Behaviour, International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology, www.IJARIIT.com.
APA
Kavika Singhal (2026). Predicting Adolescent Psychological Outcomes of Therapeutic Chatbot Use by Integrating Neuroscience, Chatbot, and User Behaviour. International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology, 12(1) www.IJARIIT.com.
MLA
Kavika Singhal. "Predicting Adolescent Psychological Outcomes of Therapeutic Chatbot Use by Integrating Neuroscience, Chatbot, and User Behaviour." International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology 12.1 (2026). www.IJARIIT.com.
Abstract
As we find our lives more and more intertwined with Artificial Intelligence, we use it for a variety of purposes. Using an AI assistant means that many tasks previously done by us can now be outsourced. This has many implications, cognitive, sociological and emotional. Earlier research in neuroscience suggests that teenagers and young adults are more vulnerable to negative psychological impacts from external influences. A study shows an increase in cognitive decline in students who use AI for essay writing. (Kosmyna). Another preprint finding shows how AI can aid medical misinformation sometimes and enhance patient care other times. (Jedrzejczak et al.). This paper discusses the effects of AI usage for companionship or mental health-focused conversations on adolescents and youth. Drawing on neuroscience literature and understanding the reward circuitry of the brain, it assesses the potential downsides of long-term usage. Deploying a basic chatbot to engage in empathetic conversations and conducting a survey (n=90) post interaction, perceived empathy, validation and other emotional factors are assessed. Another experiment is conducted to quantitatively measure chatbot validation. This paper proposes that AI is over-validating by nature and that it fosters reliance.
