Effect of Social Anxiety on the Adoption of Robotic Training Partner.

With the development of artificial intelligence technologies, robotic training partner is becoming a reality, which is a substitute for human training partner. Socially anxious individuals feel uncomfortable in front of unfamiliar people or when being observed by others. Playing with robotic training partners can avoid face-to-face interaction with other people. It is unclear whether social anxiety affects the adoption of robotic training partners. This study investigates the effect of social anxiety on the adoption of robotic training partners among university students. Study 1 confirmed that university students with higher social anxiety are more likely to choose robotic training partners than human training partners. Mediation analysis in Study 2 supported the mediating role of sense of relaxation with robotic training partner in the positive effect of social anxiety on the adoption of robotic training partner. This study shows that developing training partner robots is a meaningful thing for corporate profits and the health of socially anxious people.