Haberkorn, P., Mack, C., & Giuliani, M. (2026). Exploring the Potential of Dialogue-Based Robots to Motivate Social Connection in Older Adults. Companion Proceedings of the 21st ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, 685–689. https://doi.org/10.1145/3776734.3794483
@inproceedings{10.1145/3776734.3794483,
author = {Haberkorn, Pascal and Mack, Corinna and Giuliani, Manuel},
title = {Exploring the Potential of Dialogue-Based Robots to Motivate Social Connection in Older Adults},
year = {2026},
isbn = {9798400723216},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
address = {New York, NY, USA},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3776734.3794483},
doi = {10.1145/3776734.3794483},
booktitle = {Companion Proceedings of the 21st ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction},
pages = {685–689},
numpages = {5},
keywords = {human-robot interaction, motivational interviewing, robots as motivators, social connection in older adults},
location = {Edinburgh, Scotland, UK},
series = {HRI Companion '26}
}
This study investigates whether a dialogue-based robot, employing motivational interviewing techniques, can enhance the intrinsic motivation of older adults to engage with their local social networks. A user study was conducted in which a Furhat robot interacted with participants, first presenting information about upcoming local social events and subsequently using motivational interviewing to encourage reflection on their personal motivation to attend. The study included 42 older adults (aged between 57 and 90 years old, mean age = 73.9 years). Participants completed the Situational Intrinsic Motivation Scale (SIMS) before and after the interaction with the robot to assess changes in intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, identified regulation, and external regulation. Additionally, the Negative Attitudes Toward Robots Scale (NARS) was administered, and semi-structured interviews were conducted post-interaction. Results indicated no statistically significant changes in SIMS scores, though a trend toward significance was observed for identified regulation (p = 0.076). Analysis of NARS scores and qualitative interview data revealed predominantly positive attitudes toward the robot, with many participants expressing openness to future use of dialogue-based robots for social motivation. These findings suggest promising avenues for further research on the potential of robotic systems to support social engagement among older adults.
