Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-28-2025
Journal / Book Title
JMIR Formative Research
Abstract
Background: Colleges have turned to digital mental health interventions to meet the increasing mental health treatment needs of their students. Among these, chatbots stand out as artificial intelligence–driven tools capable of engaging in human-like conversations that have demonstrated some effectiveness in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using Wayhaven, an artificial intelligence chatbot, among college students with elevated depression or anxiety symptoms. We also aimed to examine the preliminary effectiveness of Wayhaven in improving symptoms of anxiety and depression, hopelessness, agency, and self-efficacy among students.
Methods: Participants were 50 racially and ethnically diverse college students with elevated depression or anxiety symptoms (n=45, 80% female; mean age 22.12, SD 4.42 years). Students were asked to use Wayhaven over the course of 1 week and completed assessments at preintervention, after 1 session, and 1 week.
Results: Wayhaven use was associated with a significant decrease in depression (β=−1.62; P< .001), anxiety (β=−2.15; P< .001), and hopelessness (β=−.64; P< .001) and a significant increase in agency (β=.64; P=.32), self-efficacy (β=.53; P=.02), and well-being (t40=2.90; P=.006; d=0.45) across the study period. Most students also reported being satisfied with Wayhaven and it being a tool they would recommend to their peers.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that Wayhaven may be a viable mental wellness resource for diverse students with elevated depression or anxiety symptoms.
DOI
10.2196/71923
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Reyes-Portillo, Jazmin; So, Amy; McAlister, Kelsey; Nicodemus, Christine; Golden, Ashleigh; Jacobson, Colleen; and Huberty, Jennifer, "Generative AI–Powered Mental Wellness Chatbot for College Student Mental Wellness: Open Trial" (2025). Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 617.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/psychology-facpubs/617
Rights
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Formative Research, is properly cited.
Published Citation
Reyes-Portillo J, So A, McAlister K, Nicodemus C, Golden A, Jacobson C, Huberty J Generative AI–Powered Mental Wellness Chatbot for College Student Mental Wellness: Open Trial JMIR Form Res 2025;9:e71923 URL: https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e71923 DOI: 10.2196/71923