MindScape Study: Integrating LLM and Behavioral Sensing for Personalized AI-Driven Journaling Experiences

Subigya Nepal; Arvind Pillai; William Campbell; Talie Massachi; Michael V. Heinz; Ashmita Kunwar; Eunsol Soul Choi; Orson Xu; Joanna Kuc; Jeremy Huckins; Jason Holden; Sarah M. Preum; Colin Depp; Nicholas Jacobson; Mary Czerwinski; Eric Granholm; Andrew T. Campbell

arXiv · 2409.09570

MindScape Study: Integrating LLM and Behavioral Sensing for Personalized AI-Driven Journaling Experiences

Subigya Nepal·Arvind Pillai·William Campbell·Talie Massachi·Michael V. Heinz·Ashmita Kunwar·Eunsol Soul Choi·Orson Xu·Joanna Kuc·Jeremy Huckins·Jason Holden·Sarah M. Preum·Colin Depp·Nicholas Jacobson·Mary Czerwinski·Eric Granholm·Andrew T. Campbell

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Abstract

Mental health concerns are prevalent among college students, highlighting the need for effective interventions that promote self-awareness and holistic well-being. MindScape pioneers a novel approach to AI-powered journaling by integrating passively collected behavioral patterns such as conversational engagement, sleep, and location with Large Language Models (LLMs). This integration creates a highly personalized and context-aware journaling experience, enhancing self-awareness and well-being by embedding behavioral intelligence into AI. We present an 8-week exploratory study with 20 college students, demonstrating the MindScape app's efficacy in enhancing positive affect (7%), reducing negative affect (11%), loneliness (6%), and anxiety and depression, with a significant week-over-week decrease in PHQ-4 scores (-0.25 coefficient), alongside improvements in mindfulness (7%) and self-reflection (6%). The study highlights the advantages of contextual AI journaling, with participants particularly appreciating the tailored prompts and insights provided by the MindScape app. Our analysis also includes a comparison of responses to AI-driven contextual versus generic prompts, participant feedback insights, and proposed strategies for leveraging contextual AI journaling to improve well-being on college campuses. By showcasing the potential of contextual AI journaling to support mental health, we provide a foundation for further investigation into the effects of contextual AI journaling on mental health and well-being.

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Subigya Nepal, Arvind Pillai, William Campbell, Talie Massachi, Michael V. Heinz, Ashmita Kunwar, Eunsol Soul Choi, Orson Xu, Joanna Kuc, Jeremy Huckins, Jason Holden, Sarah M. Preum, Colin Depp, Nicholas Jacobson, Mary Czerwinski, Eric Granholm, Andrew T. Campbell. 2024-09-15. MindScape Study: Integrating LLM and Behavioral Sensing for Personalized AI-Driven Journaling Experiences. https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.09570

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