A chatbot-delivered multicomponent intervention to promote change in physical exercise and dietary habits: preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial

Digital tools offer a user-friendly, cost-effective, and accessible solution to broadly disseminate mental health-related interventions. Such tools include chatbots, which are computer programs that simulate human conversations. This research project aimed to use a motivational chatbot to promote and monitor behavioral changes related to healthy lifestyles, specifically physical exercise, and dietary habits. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) study tested the usability and the effectiveness of a 4-weeks, ACT-based, chatbot intervention. Based on the theoretical model of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the chatbot aimed at increasing psychological flexibility (PF) among participants as a core mechanism of change towards more healthy lifestyles. A total of 156 (75,76% females; Mage = 22.24 ‡ 6.09 years) Italian adults were randomized to either the experimental or control group and completed a package of questionnaires at pre- and post-treatment, and at two-months follow-up. Results: Longitudinal data will be analyzed using mixed models. Comparisons will be made between the two groups over time, with the expectation that the group receiving the motivational Bot intervention (Group I - "treatment") will experience greater changes in targeted behaviors compared to the control group, providing valuable insights on the use of chatbots as a motivational tool and on the usability of such interventions. The results will supposedly show that the usability and quality of the chatbot, as well as its actual frequency of use and psychological flexibility, play a key role in producing motivational changes. Results from this study will also provide additional insights on chatbot interventions and inform mental health practitioners on the role of patient-tailored artificial intelligence (AI)-led chatbot services to foster healthy lifestyles.