Toward a design theory for virtual companionship

Strohmann, Timo; Siemon, Dominik; Khosrawi-Rad, Bijan; Robra-Bissantz, Susanne

doi:10.1080/07370024.2022.2084620

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 133 publications

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“…This result is also in line with previous literature that found that products with companion characteristics are more likely to evoke positive emotional states among users, such as social support Bott et al (2019), positive emotions (D'Onofrio et al, 2019), trust Rizzo et al (2023) and willingness to accept disembodied agents (Merrill et al, 2022). Moreover, these findings align with previous research that has indicated how interacting with non-human entities in a companion-like manner can elicit a sense of connection akin to human relationships (Strohmann et al, 2023). This sense of connection, in turn, fosters a feeling of belonging and serves as a defense against loneliness (Melumad & Pham, 2020;Nie et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

An Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors of Mobile Health Apps Acceptance Among Silver Generation in China: An Extended STAM

Xie,

Mahomed,

Mohamed

et al. 2024

IJARBSS

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Mobile health apps acceptance is the necessary element for healthcare business success and market expanded. Hence, the current study examines features that impact the acceptance of mHealth apps among silver generation mobile users in China. Companion presence, initial trust and the Senior Technology Acceptance Model (STAM) was employed as influencing factors. Questionnaires for data collection was extracted and data was collected from 641 responses using the purposive sampling approach. Smart-PLS was applied to examine the relationships among variables. The results indicated that companion presence and initial trust have positive nexuses with mHealth apps acceptance intention. This study contributes new insights to evaluating mHealth apps acceptance by considering the effects of companion roles of apps and also offers substantial contributions for practitioners to improving the app features.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

An Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors of Mobile Health Apps Acceptance Among Silver Generation in China: An Extended STAM

Xie,

Mahomed,

Mohamed

et al. 2024

IJARBSS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A virtual assistant refers to a computer program or technology-based entity designed to provide support and services to users, often in the context of human-machine interaction [8]. Its functions include various tasks, ranging from providing information, executing commands to assisting users in completing specific tasks.…”

Section: Virtual Assistantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Potential of ChatGPT as a Virtual Assistant for Strategic Decision-Making in Startup Businesses

Mahmudin

2023

J.Adman

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In the current era of digital and information technology, startup businesses have emerged as primary drivers of innovation and economic growth. Startups face unique challenges, including resource constraints and the pressure to make intelligent strategic decisions to survive and thrive in a competitive market. This research aims to identify the extent to which ChatGPT can serve as an effective virtual assistant in supporting strategic decision-making in the context of startup businesses. The study conducts an extensive literature review, employing qualitative analysis methods to gain a profound understanding of the topic, covering the period from 2005 to 2023. The findings of the study indicate that exploring the potential of ChatGPT as a virtual assistant for strategic decision-making in startup businesses holds various benefits. Its ability to process information rapidly, provide deep insights, and function as an effective communication tool can offer a competitive advantage. Features such as simulation and prediction also assist business leaders in making more informed decisions. However, it is important to note that the use of ChatGPT poses ethical and data security challenges. Therefore, startup businesses are advised to adopt clear policies, ensuring compliance with ethical business norms, and maintaining data security in accordance with applicable privacy regulations.

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“…Virtual companionship might be perceived as "a special form of friendship" or "having someone familiar". 1 Previous research has discussed the relationship between social media use and well-being on various levels, such as the relationship among media use, anxiety, and well-being among Chinese people during Covid-19, 2 and the correlation between social media usage and psychological well-being among university students in Pakistan. 3 AI offers unprecedented opportunities for interaction, especially for those who may experience barriers in face-to-face settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal Examination of the Relationship Between Virtual Companionship and Social Anxiety: Emotional Expression as a Mediator and Mindfulness as a Moderator

Xie,

Wang

2024

PRBM

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As the interweaving of human interaction and Artificial Intelligence (AI) intensifies, understanding the psychological impact, especially regarding social anxiety, of engaging with AI-driven virtual companionship becomes crucial. While a substantial body of research on social anxiety has concentrated on interactions between individuals, both online and offline, there is a noticeable deficit in explorations concerning how human-computer interactions influence social anxiety. This study offers a comprehensive, longitudinal examination of this underinvestigated relationship, intricately dissecting the roles of emotional expression and mindfulness within the context of AI-based interactions. Methods: We use social support theory and emotion regulation theory as our theoretical foundation. Data were collected from 618 undergraduate students in Eastern China over two intervals (May 15, 2023 and September 15, 2023). We utilized SPSS 26.0 to conduct descriptive statistics, while AMOS 25.0 facilitated multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the cross-lagged panel modeling. Results: Our findings indicate that as the frequency of virtual companionship use increases, there's a decline in online social anxiety but a rise in offline social anxiety. Emotional expression emerges as a significant mediator, with heightened emotional expression leading to reduced social anxiety in both contexts. Mindfulness serves as a potent moderator, suggesting its protective role against the potential pitfalls of frequent virtual interactions. Conclusion: This research not only deepens our theoretical understanding of the dynamics between virtual interactions and social anxiety but also serves as a cornerstone for future endeavors aimed at optimizing AI and devising therapeutic interventions tailored for the digital generation.

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Toward a design theory for virtual companionship

Cited by 10 publications

References 133 publications

An Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors of Mobile Health Apps Acceptance Among Silver Generation in China: An Extended STAM

An Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors of Mobile Health Apps Acceptance Among Silver Generation in China: An Extended STAM

Exploring the Potential of ChatGPT as a Virtual Assistant for Strategic Decision-Making in Startup Businesses

Longitudinal Examination of the Relationship Between Virtual Companionship and Social Anxiety: Emotional Expression as a Mediator and Mindfulness as a Moderator

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