Beliren Yetişkinlerde Depresyon ve Yapay Zekâ Sohbet Botlarına Bağımlılık İlişkisinde Yalnızlığın Aracı Rolü

Öz

Bu araştırma, 18-25 yaş aralığındaki 830 beliren yetişkinden oluşan bir çalışma grubu üzerinde depresyonun yapay zekâ sohbet botlarına bağımlılık ile ilişkisini ve bu ilişkide yalnızlığın aracı rolünü incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Veriler, depresyon, yalnızlık ve yapay zekâ sohbet botlarına bağımlılık düzeylerini değerlendiren özbildirim ölçekleri aracılığıyla toplanmış; verilerin analizinde korelasyon ve regresyon analizleri ile Hayes PROCESS Macro Model 4 kullanılmıştır. Korelasyon analizi, üç değişken arasında pozitif yönlü ve anlamlı ilişkiler bulunduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Regresyon analizleri incelendiğinde, depresyonun yapay zekâ bağımlılığını (R²= .041) ve yalnızlığı (R²= .128) anlamlı biçimde yordadığı; yalnızlığın ise yapay zekâ sohbet botları kullanımını anlamlı düzeyde yordadığı (R²= .022) görülmüştür. Bootstrap tabanlı aracılık analizi sonuçları, depresyon ile yapay zekâ sohbet botlarına bağımlılık arasındaki ilişkide yalnızlığın anlamlı bir kısmi aracı rol oynadığını ve dolaylı etkinin toplam etkiye oranının %15,46 olduğunu göstermiştir. Bulgular, Telafi Edici İnternet Kullanımı Kuramı ve I-PACE modeli çerçevesinde değerlendirilmiş; depresyonun yalnızlık duygularını artırdığı ve bu durumun bireyleri yapay zekâ sohbet botlarına yönelik bağımlılık örüntülerine yönlendirebildiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda mikro düzeyde psikolog, psikolojik danışman ve sosyal hizmet uzmanlarının değerlendirme süreçlerinde yalnızlık ve YZ kullanım örüntülerini birlikte ele alması; mezzo düzeyde üniversite ve sosyal hizmet kuruluşlarının farkındalık programları ile erken tarama protokolleri geliştirmesi; makro düzeyde ise YZ uygulamalarını düzenleyen etik-yasal çerçevelerin ve sosyal hizmet mesleki standartlarının güncellenmesi önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bağımlılık
• yapay zekâ sohbet botu bağımlılığı
• depresyon
• yalnızlık
• beliren yetişkinlik

Etik Beyan

• Onayın alındığı kurumun adı: Sakarya Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Etik Kurulu • Karar tarihi ve numarası: Karar No: 35, Tarih: 18.02.2026 • Onay belgesine ilişkin kısa açıklama: Etik Kurulun 18.02.2026 tarihli ve 96 sayılı toplantısında, Arş. Gör. Dr. Cengizhan Aynacı’nın başvurusu uygun görülmüştür.

The Mediating Role of Loneliness in the Relationship Between Depression and Dependence on AI Chatbots Among Emerging Adults

Öz

This study aimed to examine the relationship between depression and addiction to AI chatbots, as well as the mediating role of loneliness in this relationship, among a sample of 830 emerging adults aged 18–25. The data were collected using self-report scales that assess levels of depression, loneliness, and dependence on AI chatbots; correlation and regression analyses, along with the Hayes PROCESS Macro Model 4, were used to analyze the data. Correlation analysis revealed positive and significant relationships among the three variables. An examination of the regression analyses revealed that depression significantly predicted artificial intelligence dependence (R² = .041) and loneliness (R² = .128), while loneliness significantly predicted the use of artificial intelligence chatbots (R² = .022). The results of the bootstrap-based mediation analysis showed that loneliness played a significant partial mediating role in the relationship between depression and dependence on AI chatbots, and that the indirect effect accounted for 15,46% of the total effect. The findings were evaluated within the framework of the Compensatory Internet Use Theory and the I-PACE model; it was concluded that depression increases feelings of loneliness and that this situation can lead individuals toward patterns of dependence on artificial intelligence chatbots. Based on these findings, it is recommended that, at the micro level, psychologists, psychological counselors, and social workers address feelings of loneliness and AI usage patterns together in their assessment processes; at the mezzo level, universities and social service organizations develop awareness programs and early screening protocols; and at the macro level, the ethical and legal frameworks regulating AI applications and social work professional standards be updated.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dependence
• AI chatbot dependence
• depression
• loneliness
• emerging adulthood

Kaynakça

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