Using an Artificial Intelligence Based Chatbot to Provide Parent Training: Results from a Feasibility Study

ENTENBERG, GUIDO A.; AREAS, MALENKA; ROUSSOS, ANDRÉS J.; MAGLIO, ANA LAURA; THRALL, JILLIAN; ESCOREDO, MILAGROS; BUNGE, EDUARDO L.

Social Sciences

MDPI

Año: 2021 vol. 10

Online parenting training programs have shown to be effective. However, no studies onparent training programs delivered through chatbots have been reported yet. Aim. This study aims toassess the feasibility of delivering parenting skills through a chatbot. Methods. A sample of 33 parentscompleted a pilot feasibility study. Engagement, knowledge, net-promoters score and qualitativeresponses were analyzed. Results. A total of 78.8% of the sample completed the intervention. Onaverage, participants remembered 3.7 skills out of the 5 presented and reported that they wouldrecommend the chatbot to other parents (net promoter score was 7.44; SD = 2.31 out of 10). Overall,parents sent a mean of 54.24 (SD = 13.5) messages to the chatbot, and the mean number of wordsper message was 3. Main themes parents discussed with the chatbot included issues regarding theirchild’s habits, handling disruptive behaviors, interpersonal development, and emotional difficulties.Parents generally commented on the usefulness of the intervention and suggested improvements tothe chatbot’s communication style. Conclusions. Overall, users completed the intervention, engagedwith the bot, and would recommend the intervention to others. This suggests parenting skills couldbe delivered via chatbots.