AI Chatbot Use and Disclosure for Mental Health Among US Adolescents and Young Adults
Cross-sectional, nationally representative survey (RAND American Life Panel, November 2025) of US youth aged 12-21 measuring prevalence and disclosure of using AI chatbots for mental-health advice. Reports that 19.2% of adolescents and young adults (about 8.2 million nationally) used AI chatbots for mental-health advice in 2025, up from roughly 13.1% a year earlier.
Publisher
JAMA Pediatrics (American Medical Association); RAND-led author team
Published
1 Jun 2026
Added
3 months ago
Key Findings
- 19.2% of surveyed 12-21-year-olds used AI chatbots for mental-health advice in 2025 (approx. 8.2 million youth), up from about 13.1% the prior year
- 63.3% of youth users had disclosed their chatbot use for mental health to no one
- Among users, 42.8% consulted chatbots monthly or more often and 91.7% found the responses helpful
Methodology Notes
Research letter, JAMA Pediatrics (published online 1 June 2026; exact day within June confirmed from the article page). Cross-sectional survey, n=1,009 unweighted, population-weighted to US youth 12-21, fielded November 2025. Self-report and cross-sectional limitations apply.
Sources
JAMA Pediatrics article(opens in a new tab) (primary)
RAND press coverage(opens in a new tab)
Authors reply: McBain, Cantor, Yu (JAMA Pediatrics)(opens in a new tab) (14 Sept 2026)
Archived snapshot (Wayback Machine)(opens in a new tab) — preserved against link rot
Authors
Ryan K. McBain, Jonathan H. Cantor, Joshua Breslau
Tags
Cite This
APA
Ryan K. McBain, Jonathan H. Cantor, Joshua Breslau. (2026). AI Chatbot Use and Disclosure for Mental Health Among US Adolescents and Young Adults. JAMA Pediatrics (American Medical Association); RAND-led author team. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2849307
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