Large Language Model Agents for Improving Engagement with Behavior Change Interventions: Application to Digital Mindfulness

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Kumar, Harsh, Yoo, Suhyeon, Bernuy, Angela Zavaleta, Shi, Jiakai, Luo, Huayin, Williams, Joseph, Kuzminykh, Anastasia, Anderson, Ashton, Kornfield, Rachel
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
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author Kumar, Harsh
Yoo, Suhyeon
Bernuy, Angela Zavaleta
Shi, Jiakai
Luo, Huayin
Williams, Joseph
Kuzminykh, Anastasia
Anderson, Ashton
Kornfield, Rachel
author_facet Kumar, Harsh
Yoo, Suhyeon
Bernuy, Angela Zavaleta
Shi, Jiakai
Luo, Huayin
Williams, Joseph
Kuzminykh, Anastasia
Anderson, Ashton
Kornfield, Rachel
contents Although engagement in self-directed wellness exercises typically declines over time, integrating social support such as coaching can sustain it. However, traditional forms of support are often inaccessible due to the high costs and complex coordination. Large Language Models (LLMs) show promise in providing human-like dialogues that could emulate social support. Yet, in-depth, in situ investigations of LLMs to support behavior change remain underexplored. We conducted two randomized experiments to assess the impact of LLM agents on user engagement with mindfulness exercises. First, a single-session study, involved 502 crowdworkers; second, a three-week study, included 54 participants. We explored two types of LLM agents: one providing information and another facilitating self-reflection. Both agents enhanced users' intentions to practice mindfulness. However, only the information-providing LLM, featuring a friendly persona, significantly improved engagement with the exercises. Our findings suggest that specific LLM agents may bridge the social support gap in digital health interventions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_13067
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Large Language Model Agents for Improving Engagement with Behavior Change Interventions: Application to Digital Mindfulness
Kumar, Harsh
Yoo, Suhyeon
Bernuy, Angela Zavaleta
Shi, Jiakai
Luo, Huayin
Williams, Joseph
Kuzminykh, Anastasia
Anderson, Ashton
Kornfield, Rachel
Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
Computers and Society
Although engagement in self-directed wellness exercises typically declines over time, integrating social support such as coaching can sustain it. However, traditional forms of support are often inaccessible due to the high costs and complex coordination. Large Language Models (LLMs) show promise in providing human-like dialogues that could emulate social support. Yet, in-depth, in situ investigations of LLMs to support behavior change remain underexplored. We conducted two randomized experiments to assess the impact of LLM agents on user engagement with mindfulness exercises. First, a single-session study, involved 502 crowdworkers; second, a three-week study, included 54 participants. We explored two types of LLM agents: one providing information and another facilitating self-reflection. Both agents enhanced users' intentions to practice mindfulness. However, only the information-providing LLM, featuring a friendly persona, significantly improved engagement with the exercises. Our findings suggest that specific LLM agents may bridge the social support gap in digital health interventions.
title Large Language Model Agents for Improving Engagement with Behavior Change Interventions: Application to Digital Mindfulness
topic Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
Computers and Society
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.13067