Influence of Artificial Intelligence-Based Chatbots on Counselling Accessibility Among Adolescents in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State

Abstract

This study examined the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based chatbots on counselling accessibility among adolescents in secondary schools in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State. The study was guided by three specific objectives, corresponding research questions, and hypotheses. The theoretical foundation for the study was the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A descriptive survey research design was employed for the study. The population for the study was 25,022 students from 34 senior secondary schools in Port Harcourt Metropolis. Using stratified random sampling, a sample size of 377 students was determined based on Taro Yamane’s formula. The instrument titled AI-Based Chatbots and Counselling Accessibility Questionnaire (AIBCCAQ) was developed, validated, and found reliable with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.86. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while independent sample t-tests were used to test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that AI-based chatbots significantly influence adolescents' access to counselling services by reducing barriers such as stigma, time constraints, and limited human counsellors. The study concluded that AI-based chatbots significantly influence counselling accessibility among adolescents in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State. The study recommended, among others, that educational stakeholders and school administrators should adopt and integrate AI chatbot platforms to supplement traditional counselling services and improve adolescent well-being in secondary schools within Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State.