Will you accept a virtual human as a friend? Exploring the role of virtual humans in mood management and mental health support

Introduction The advancement of virtual human technology has opened new possibilities for its application in various fields, including healthcare. Recent research has begun exploring the use of virtual humans as tools for mood management in daily life. However, there is limited understanding of how individuals perceive virtual humans for this purpose, particularly in social media contexts where they are often viewed as influencers rather than therapeutic entities. This study investigates whether people intend to accept virtual humans as a kind of friend and engage in mood management. The study applies the Cognitive Behavioral Theory of Pathological Internet Use integrated with the Technology Acceptance Model and the Uncanny Valley Effect to explain why people who prefer online social interaction use virtual humans for mood management, and to examine whether they will accept virtual humans as friends. Methods This study employs survey, where participants were asked about their perceptions of virtual humans, specifically focusing on their willingness to accept virtual humans as friends for mood management on social media platforms. The sample consists of social media users who are familiar with virtual influencers. A series of hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling to assess the relationships between prefer for online social interaction, online chatting mood regulation, perceived usefulness, ease of use, and intention to accept virtual humans for mood management, as well as the moderating effect of perceived eeriness. Results The study found that the preference for online social interaction has a positive impact on using online chatting for mood management, both for casual chatting and therapeutic chatting. Individuals seeking casual chatting perceive usefulness and ease of use for virtual humans, while those seeking therapeutic chatting perceive only usefulness. Perceived usefulness and ease of use have a positive effect on the intention to accept virtual humans as friends. However, perceived eeriness does not have a moderating effect between the variables. Discussion The study highlights the potential of virtual humans to assist with mood management on social media platforms, indicating that they could serve a practical role in psychological well-being. While the current study suggests that virtual humans are seen as useful for therapeutic purposes, challenges remain in helping users envision them in this role. Future research should address these challenges by exploring the nuances of user interaction with virtual humans and examining their potential to make a broader social impact, especially in the fields of mental health care and personalized customer service.