2026-06-04 スウォンジー大学
◆研究では、LGBTQ+の若者を対象に日常生活での利用状況や心理的効果を評価した結果、ストレスや孤独感、不安感への対処に役立ち、感情を落ち着かせる補助ツールとして高い受容性が確認された。特に、精神的負担を感じた際に即座に利用できる点や、他者に相談しにくい状況でも安心感を得られる点が評価された。研究チームは、Purrbleが専門的な精神医療の代替ではなく補完的支援ツールであるとしつつ、若者のメンタルヘルス支援やデジタルセラピー分野に新たな可能性を示す成果であると述べている。
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.swansea.ac.uk/press-office/news-events/news/2026/06/meet-purrble–the-plushie-robot-helping-to-ease-anxiety-and-depression-in-lgbtq-young-people.php
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04422-6
自傷行為のリスクがあるLGBTQ+の若者の精神的健康を支援する社会的支援ロボット：ランダム化比較試験 A socially assistive robot to support mental wellbeing in LGBTQ+ young people at risk of self-harm: a randomized controlled trial
A. Jess Williams,C. Aubrey Rhodes,Seonaid Cleare,Rohan Borschmann,James J. Gross,Kate Petrova,Lauren Posada,Christopher R. Tench,Amelia Chapman-Nisar,Lucy Martin,Chris Hollis,Ellen Townsend & Petr Slovak on behalf of Digital Youth research team
Nature Medicine Published:04 June 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04422-6
Abstract
LGBTQ+ youth commonly have unmet mental health needs and are at elevated risk for self-harm, yet many face persistent institutional barriers to accessing support. One impactful way to reduce risk and promote wellbeing is by supporting emotion regulation; that is, the process by which individuals can influence which emotions they feel, when they feel them and how they experience or express these emotions. This universal, modifiable process is widely considered a key transdiagnostic target for mental ill-health prevention and intervention efforts. We conducted a randomized controlled trial using Purrble, a socially assistive robot designed to provide in-the-moment emotion regulation support through intuitive tactile interaction. Between 12 January and 1 September 2024, 153 LGBTQ+ youth with self-harm ideation were randomized 1:1 to receive Purrble and safety planning (Purrble + SP) or safety planning alone (SP-Only), stratified by gender identity (50.3% transgender/gender diverse). Data were collected over 13 weeks, with data collection closing on 22 October 2024. The primary outcome was perceived emotion regulation difficulties at follow-up, adjusted for baseline, gender identity and age. Participants allocated to the Purrble intervention reported fewer emotion regulation difficulties at follow-up than those allocated to safety planning alone (adjusted mean difference: –3.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): −4.92 to −1.16; P = 0.002; partial η2 = 0.07). For secondary outcomes, participants in the Purrble intervention also reported significantly lower symptoms of anxiety and depression, but no significant main effect was observed for self-harm. No serious Purrble-related adverse events were observed. Purrble may offer a scalable intervention to complement existing therapeutic approaches to support LGBTQ+ youth to enhance their emotion regulation. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06025942.
