The Impact of Chatbots on Adolescent Mental Health Development: A Comprehensive Literature Review

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in adolescent mental health care represents a transformative shift in how digital interventions address psychological well-being among young populations. This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence examining the multifaceted impact of chatbot technology on adolescent mental health development. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus databases using terms related to chatbots, conversational agents, adolescents, and mental health. Following PRISMA guidelines, 80 studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included after screening 1247 initial records and excluding duplicates and irrelevant articles. Through systematic analysis, we explore the complex relationships between chatbot usage and emotional health, social development, cognitive functioning, and behavioral patterns among adolescents aged 10-24 years. The review reveals that chatbots demonstrate moderate effectiveness in reducing psychological distress (g = -0.46 to -0.10) and show promise in addressing barriers to mental health care access, particularly stigma-related concerns. However, emerging evidence also highlights potential risks including dependency, social withdrawal, and privacy concerns. The findings suggest that while chatbots offer valuable supplementary mental health support, careful consideration of ethical implications, cultural adaptations, and long-term developmental effects is essential for responsible implementation.