Exploring Generation Zers′ Acceptance of Service Robots for Mental Health and Well Being in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study

Purpose The main purpose of this study is to investigate the critical factors influencing Generation Zers′ acceptance of service robots for mental health and well‐being application. This leads to the development of a conceptual framework within the theoretical background of the theory of personality traits and health belief model. Design/Methodology/Approach This study adopted a qualitative approach via semistructured interviews to address the research question. It was conducted in West Java, Indonesia, involving 25 participants. There were 11 women and 14 men among the participants, and the participants were 21 years old on average. Social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn were used to recruit these participants. Findings The results show that robot design, personality traits, and user perception have some influence on Generation Zers′ use of service robots for mental and health well‐being. Generation Zers are willing to use service robots if the service robots are user‐friendly and cheap to operate for efficiently providing the necessary information. They highlighted the importance of service robots′ features and capabilities in understanding, interpreting, and responding to their needs. This study also reveals that individuals who have these personality traits such as agreeable and open to new experiences are likely to use service robots for mental and health well‐being. In terms of health‐related behavior, Generation Zers′ use of service robots is dependent on the severity of their health condition. From the theoretical side, this study provides a validated research model for exploring the Generation Zers′ acceptance of service robots for mental health and well‐being. Practically, this study provides useful insights for enhancing user engagement, reducing barriers to care, and fostering trust in automated mental health solutions. Moreover, the findings may contribute to shaping best practices, policy frameworks, and ethical standards for the integration of service robots into mental health delivery systems.