Does Disclosing Negative Emotions to Generative AI Make People Feel Better? The Mechanisms and Boundary Conditions

Although prior research has extensively examined AI applications in information delivery, task collaboration, and general social support, limited attention has been devoted to the emotional outcomes of disclosing negative emotions to GenAI. In particular, it remains unclear whether such disclosure effectively promotes emotional relief, through which psychological mechanisms these effects operate, and under what conditions they are strengthened.

Drawing upon self-disclosure theory, and emotion regulation theory, the present research investigated the effectiveness, underlying mechanisms, and boundary conditions of negative emotional disclosure to GenAI.Three studies were conducted. In Study 1, a single-factor between-subjects experimental design was employed. After inducing negative emotions, participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: disclosure to GenAI, online expressive writing, or self-reflection.