## Social Robots in Care: AI Companions Offer Emotional Support to Carers **News Type:** Technology / Robotics / Social Care **Report Provider:** Open Access Government **Author:** Monet Bailey **Publication Date:** September 16, 2025 ### Key Findings and Conclusions: A new study from the University of Cambridge, published in the *International Journal of Social Robotics*, demonstrates that social robots, such as the humanoid robot Pepper, can significantly improve the emotional wellbeing of informal caregivers. The research highlights the potential of these AI companions to alleviate stress, loneliness, and emotional pressure experienced by individuals who care for friends or family without payment or formal training. The core findings indicate that: * **Reduced Loneliness and Overwhelm:** Regular interaction with a social robot programmed for engagement led to a significant reduction in feelings of loneliness and being overwhelmed among caregivers. * **Increased Emotional Self-Awareness:** Caregivers reported a greater ability to talk about themselves and their experiences, gaining a "space to talk about themselves" that they often lack. * **Improved Moods and Comfort:** After engaging in conversations with Pepper about everyday topics, caregivers experienced improved moods and perceived the robot as a source of comfort. * **Enhanced Emotional Regulation and Acceptance:** The five-week intervention fostered a greater acceptance of their caregiving role, leading to a more positive reappraisal and reduced feelings of blame. It also strengthened their ability to regulate their emotions. * **Translation of Unspoken Emotions:** Social robots can help caregivers translate their unspoken emotions into a meaningful, shared understanding. ### Study Details and Methodology: * **Intervention Period:** A five-week intervention was conducted with a group of informal caregivers. * **Participants:** The study included caregivers from diverse backgrounds, such as parents of children with disabilities and older adults caring for partners with dementia. * **Robot Interaction:** Participants chatted with the humanoid robot Pepper twice a week for the duration of the study. * **Monitoring:** Researchers monitored caregivers' perceptions of the robot, its comforting qualities, and its impact on their moods, feelings of loneliness, stress levels, and emotional regulation. ### Significant Trends and Implications: The research points to a significant trend in the integration of social robots into caregiving roles. This study is noted as being the first of its kind to demonstrate that a series of conversations with a robot about personal experiences can substantially reduce loneliness and stress in informal caregivers. It suggests a future where robots play an integral part in providing both emotional and practical support, particularly in situations where human connection is scarce. ### Notable Risks or Concerns: While the study highlights positive outcomes, it primarily focuses on the benefits. Potential risks or concerns that may warrant further investigation include: * **Long-term effects:** The current study's duration was five weeks; the long-term impact of social robot interaction needs further exploration. * **Ethical considerations:** The ethical implications of relying on AI for emotional support and the potential for over-reliance on robots should be considered. * **Accessibility and cost:** The widespread adoption of such technology may be limited by accessibility and cost factors. ### Key Quotes: * "In other words, these conversations with a social robot gave caregivers something that they sorely lack – a space to talk about themselves." - Dr. Guy Laban, first author. * "Over those five weeks, carers gradually opened up more. They spoke to Pepper more freely, for longer than they had done at the start, and they also reflected more deeply on their own experiences." - Dr. Guy Laban. * "They told us that chatting to the robot helped them to open up, feel less lonely and overwhelmed, and reconnect with their own emotional needs." - Dr. Guy Laban. * "Informal carers are often overwhelmed by emotional burdens and isolation. This study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to show that a series of conversations with a robot about themselves can significantly reduce carers’ loneliness and stress." - Professor Emily Cross, co-author. * "The intervention also promoted acceptance of their caregiving role and strengthened their ability to regulate their emotions. This highlights ways in which assistive social robots can offer emotional support when human connection is often scarce." - Professor Emily Cross. ### News Identifiers: * **URL:** `https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/social-robots-in-care-how-ai-companions-support-carers/198244/` * **Published At:** 2025-09-16 09:14:53
Social robots in care: How AI companions support carers
Read original at Open Access Government →Pepper the robot Credit: Alex Knight via Wikimedia Commons New Cambridge research reveals social robots boost emotional wellbeing and relieve pressure on carers, reshaping future caregiving A new study from the University of Cambridge highlights the growing role of social robots in caregiving. Researchers have found that humanoid robots, such as the robot Pepper, can help alleviate stress, loneliness, and emotional pressure for informal caregivers.
By providing companionship and interactive support, these robotic assistants are showing promise as an innovative tool to ease the challenges faced by caregivers, pointing to a future where robots play an integral role in both emotional and practical care. The study is available in the International Journal of Social Robotics.
Can social robots help tackle loneliness? In a groundbreaking study, researchers have examined the influence of social robots on carers and discovered that regular interaction with a robot programmed to engage with them yields significant positive benefits. These include a reduction in feelings of loneliness and being overwhelmed, and an increase in emotional self-awareness.
“In other words, these conversations with a social robot gave caregivers something that they sorely lack – a space to talk about themselves,” said first author Dr Guy Laban from Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology. The researchers established a five-week intervention with a group of informal caregivers, individuals who care for friends or family without receiving payment or formal training.
Whilst caring can be rewarding, it can cause physical and emotional strain. The researchers found that increased care, family responsibilities, a lack of personal space, and reduced social engagement are reasons why informal caregivers often report feeling lonely. One coping strategy is self-disclosure and social sharing; however, this is often not possible for carers, who frequently face a lack of social support.
Pepper supported carers’ emotional needs Participants in the study came from a range of backgrounds, including parents looking after their children with disabilities and older adults caring for a partner with dementia. They were able to chat with the humanoid robot Pepper twice a week over the course of five weeks.
The researchers monitored the carers’ perceptions of the robot and whether they saw Pepper as comforting. They were also interested in seeing how this, in turn, affected their moods, feelings of loneliness, and stress levels, as well as its impact on their emotional regulation. After discussing everyday topics with Pepper, the carers’ moods improved, and they viewed the robot as a source of comfort.
“Over those five weeks, carers gradually opened up more,” said Laban. “They spoke to Pepper more freely, for longer than they had done at the start, and they also reflected more deeply on their own experiences. “They told us that chatting to the robot helped them to open up, feel less lonely and overwhelmed, and reconnect with their own emotional needs.
” The researchers found that interacting with a social robot could help caregivers translate their unspoken emotions into a meaningful, shared understanding. For example, after the five-week intervention, carers reported a greater acceptance of their caregiving role, reappraising it more positively and with reduced feelings of blame towards others.
“Informal carers are often overwhelmed by emotional burdens and isolation,” said co-author Professor Emily Cross from ETH Zürich. “This study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to show that a series of conversations with a robot about themselves can significantly reduce carers’ loneliness and stress.
“The intervention also promoted acceptance of their caregiving role and strengthened their ability to regulate their emotions. This highlights ways in which assistive social robots can offer emotional support when human connection is often scarce.”
