Improving the Well-Being of Financially Stressed University Students: A CBT-Based AI Chat-bot Intervention (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Mental health concerns, particularly depression, anxiety, and loneliness, are prevalent among university students, with financial stress further compounding these issues. This study investigates the efficacy of a CBT-based AI chatbot in improving the well-being of financially stressed university students. OBJECTIVE This study investigates the efficacy of a CBT-based AI chatbot in improving the well-being of financially stressed university students. METHODS In this randomized controlled trial, 100 university students aged 18-24 years were randomly allocated to an intervention (n=50) or waitlist control group (n=50). The intervention group interacted with a CBT-based AI chatbot for seven consecutive days, receiving personalized support and coping strategies to alleviate psychological distress. Anxiety, depression, and loneliness were assessed at baseline, Day 3, and Day 7 using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), and UCLA Loneliness Scale. RESULTS Compared to controls, the intervention group showed significant reductions in depression (F = 8.48, p CONCLUSIONS The CBT-based AI chatbot effectively reduced depression and loneliness in financially stressed university students. AI-driven interventions show promise in improving student mental health, especially for those facing financial hardship.