Factors Associated with Artificial Intelligence-Help-Seeking Behavior Among University Students in the UAE
A Cross-Sectional Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22047785 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Othman A Alfuqaha (0000-0002-4847-6388, Ajman University, corresponding author), Kyle A Msall (0000-0002-2498-6746, Ajman University), Rasha Mohamed Abdelrahman (0000-0002-9506-305X, Ajman University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 506 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-24 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Education Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2227-7102 • E-ISSN: 2227-7102 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/educsci16040506 |
| OpenAlex | W7140287256 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 44 |
Artificial intelligence (AI)-mediated tools have rapidly penetrated student life and become a valuable resource for seeking help with academic assignments/tasks, psychological problems, and social interactions. This study aims to investigate the levels and associations of AI-help-seeking behavior (AI-HSB), anxiety, stress, and depression among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, it examines the factors associated with AI-HSB based on the selected demographic (gender, marital status, age, academic year, employment status, major, and nationality), as well as anxiety, stress, and depression. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design among 433 university students, who were recruited via an online Google Form between 1 October 2025 and 10 December 2025. The study utilized validated Arabic versions of the AI-HSB scale and the anxiety, stress, and depression scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and predictive analyses were conducted using SPSS v 25. Results indicated that students reported moderate reliance on AI-HSB despite moderate to severe levels of psychological distress, with particular emphasis on anxiety. The AI-HSB was positively associated with anxiety, stress, and depression amongst the participants. Furthermore, both depression and the students’ academic year emerged as the only significant predictors of AI-HSB, explaining a modest but meaningful proportion of variance with an exact percentage of 18.1%. AI tools may partially circumvent stigma by offering privacy and anonymity; however, cultural expectations around interpersonal support, trust, and authority may simultaneously limit students’ willingness to rely on non-human agents for emotional care
Arabic · Descriptive research · Descriptive statistics · Interpersonal communication · Marital status · AI in Service Interactions · Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education · Digital Mental Health Interventions
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |