Effects on the Self-disclosure of Elderly People by Using a Robot Which Intermediates Remote Communication

Abstract

The social isolation of elderly people is becoming a big problem. To solve this problem, social robots have been regarded as suitable interfaces to support these elderly people to communicate with others (e.g. family members). In such robot-mediated communication, it can be expected to elicit self-disclosure from elderly people. In this study, we explored the requirements for intermediately robots to encourage elderly people's self-disclosure. The results suggested that an intermediately robot with human-like behavior can encourage elderly people's self-disclosure about experiences of loss (e.g. health and financial issues). Additionally, we found that warmth and competence judgments to the robot are correlated to elderly people's self-disclosure. From these results, it was suggested that the influence on the self-disclosure of the intermediately robot are strengthened by being regarded as a social other.