Abstract

This research investigates college students’ use of ChatGPT for mental health support, addressing a population with high unmet mental health needs due to barriers like accessibility and cost. Through a mixed-methods study, which included a survey of 126 students and sentiment analysis of 1,200+ social media posts, the research examined adoption prevalence, gender influences, and perceived benefits and limitations. Survey findings show 40.5% of students use ChatGPT for mental health, especially those with self-reported challenges. Female students reported higher adoption, linked to greater mental health needs and openness to supplementary support. Key benefits included 24/7 access, anonymity, and low cost, while major concerns were lack of empathy, privacy risks, and questionable reliability. The study concludes that ChatGPT serves as a supplement and not as a replacement to traditional mental health support. Recommendations include developing AI literacy programs for students and exploring hybrid care models. Future research should employ longitudinal and qualitative designs to further explore long-term impacts and user experiences, guiding the responsible integration of AI into student well-being frameworks.

Publication Date

12-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Professional Studies (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Graduate Programs & Research

Advisor

Sanjay Modak

Advisor/Committee Member

Ioannis Karamitsos

Comments

This thesis has been embargoed. The full-text will be available on or around 1/8/2027.

Campus

RIT Dubai

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