The DeepSeek chatbot as a tool for psychological support in processing significant life events
Abstract
This article presents a pilot study investigating the effectiveness of DeepSeek chatbot as a tool for psychological support during significant life events. The relevance of this research is underscored by the increasing demand for accessible mental health resources. The study involved 64 participants, divided into two groups: an experimental group (n=39) and a control group (n=25). A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was implemented over a four-week intervention period. Participants in the experimental group engaged in interactions with DeepSeek chatbot, while those in the control group received psychoeducational materials. To assess the intervention’s effectiveness, standardized instruments were used: the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. A content analysis of significant life events experienced by the participants in the past year revealed a similar structure of dominant stressors across both groups. Quantitative data analysis employed descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test, Levene’s test, and Student’s test. The subjective experience of DeepSeek chatbot users was examined through a qualitative analysis of structured reflective reports. Quantitative results demonstrated positive dynamics within the experimental group, including reductions in depressive symptoms (p = .041), stress (p < .001), anxiety (p = .025), and subjective loneliness (p < .001), alongside a significant increase in life satisfaction (p < .001). Qualitative analysis identified the primary reasons for seeking psychological support (emotion regulation, general support, self-discovery) and confirmed the chatbot’s efficacy as a tool for situational support and structuring experiences. However, its utility was found to be limited in managing intense affective states. It is concluded that DeepSeek chatbot can be considered a supplementary tool within psychological support systems, particularly where access to specialist services is constrained. The article delineates the study’s limitations and proposes future research directions focusing on investigating long-term effects and optimizing conversational algorithms.