3 New Findings on AI, Stress, and Mental Health

Image via DALL-E

Despite all the gloom and doom about AI — from anxious projections of job displacement to concerns about the long-term stress and mental health hazards of relating to bots — new findings suggest that, for many people, the picture is rosier. A survey by the behavioral health provider FHE Health set out to gauge the stress that AI and looming AI changes are having on people. What follows are a few surprises from those findings….

The Link Between AI Familiarity and Optimism About Emerging Technology

Some of the scariest predictions about AI and its impact on humans have come from those who know the most about artificial intelligence. When leading experts discuss it, many invoke Armageddon-like imagery: “Summoning the demon.” “The new tools of our oppression.” “Children playing with a bomb.” These are just some of the dire commentaries from those who know AI best, implying a close association between knowledge of AI and concerns about AI’s destructive potential. 

Interestingly, the survey revealed no such correlation. The opposite trend emerged. Individuals with more excellent knowledge of AI tended to view AI more positively. Among respondents who described themselves as knowledgeable or enthusiastic about AI, 80 percent expressed upbeat sentiments toward emerging AI technologies. In contrast, only six percent reported negative or very negative feelings, while 15 percent maintained a neutral stance. 

Conversely, a lack of familiarity with AI strongly predicted skepticism. Of those with little understanding of AI, 32 percent held harmful perceptions. Approximately 40 percent of this group reported neutral feelings, and 30 percent expressed optimistic or favorable views.

Views of AI’s Impact on Employment

Another interesting discovery was how survey respondents viewed AI’s impact on their employment based on their level of computer use. Over half of the respondents worked a job that required them to use a computer. Was there a correlation between computer use and concerns about job loss? 

Answers revealed that roughly 29 percent of participants logged onto a computer for at least eight hours per workday, while 28 percent used a computer for at least two hours. The remaining 43 percent of participants used a computer for two hours or less of their workday or did not rely on a computer to complete their jobs. 

Among those who relied on a computer for work, 60 percent of people who used a laptop full-time had seen “some” or “many” AI-related changes to their jobs, compared to roughly 65 percent of those who worked on a computer 2-4 hours per day. Among those who didn’t use a computer, around 35 percent had seen “some” or “many” changes, while about 65 percent reported that their jobs had been unchanged. 

Computer Use and Positive Experiences with AI Tools 

About 56 percent of respondents expressed positive or very positive experiences with the AI technology they’ve used. For those who used computers for at least eight workday hours, this shifted to 61 percent, and it jumped to 68 percent among those who used a computer for 2-4 hours. Thirty-three percent of people who reported not using a laptop for work reported positive or very positive feelings about AI tools they’ve used.

AI and Its Link to Mental Health 

How did AI technology influence respondents’ mental health, and did perceptions in this area align with self-reported mental health ratings?

Results revealed that just over half of the respondents (52 percent) felt technology positively or very positively affected their mental health. This group reported an average mental health score of 8.6 — approximately 8 percent higher than the average of 7.98.

Approximately 25 percent of participants expressed a neutral view regarding technology's impact on their mental health, with this group reporting an average mental health score of 7.49. Meanwhile, 23 percent of respondents felt that technology had a negative or very negative effect on their mental well-being. This group reported an average mental health score of 7.10, about 11 percent below average.

Technology is an integral part of daily life for most people, and the changes it brings are mixed. If advances in AI portend much of the same, these survey findings are a reminder that AI’s effects on stress and mental health are not so catastrophic. They may even be beneficial. 

Discover insights and strategies for success with Breakfast Leadership — your go-to source for leadership articles, shows, and more. Subscribe today to stay informed and inspired!