The Shift From Human to AI Support in Gen Z Mental Health Coping: A Comparative Study on Trust, Stigma, and Generational Perception Gaps

Abstract

Generation Z (Gen Z) faces unprecedented levels of academic and psychological stress, yet traditional familial support structures are often underutilized due to a widening cross-generational communication gap and deep-seated cultural stigma. Concurrently, conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have emerged as highly accessible alternatives for emotional venting. This empirical study investigates the specific factors driving Gen Z’s preference for AI-based emotional coping mechanisms over traditional family support, directly evaluating the contrasting perceptions between youth and older educators. A primary quantitative survey was executed across an engineering institution, capturing a validated dataset of N = 132 respondents. The sample was split into a student cohort (n? = 87) representing Gen Z and a faculty/staff cohort (n? = 45) representing the older adult demographic. The data reveals a significant perceptual divergence. While 54.5% of faculty respondents believe family structures offer safe environments for emotional dialogue, a critical 32.1% of Gen Z students report active discomfort in parental discussions, driven by a fear of causing parental worry (32.6%) and generational gaps (31.4%). Consequently, 64.3% of students utilize generative AI tools for emotional regulation, prioritizing absolute anonymity, 24/7 availability, and a perceived lack of judgment over traditional human interaction. The findings indicate that AI tools are actively filling a communication vacuum within households. While AI serves as a low-barrier, short-term comfort mechanism, it introduces structural risks of emotional overreliance on non-empathetic algorithms among undergraduate youth.

Introduction

This study examines the growing use of Generative AI tools as emotional support systems among Generation Z students and explores the perception gap between students and older generations regarding mental health communication. In traditional Indian family settings, discussions about stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being are often restricted by social stigma and generational differences, leaving many students without a comfortable support system. As a result, AI tools such as ChatGPT and other conversational chatbots are increasingly being used as accessible, anonymous, and non-judgmental outlets for emotional expression.

The research employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey conducted within an engineering college. A total of 132 participants responded, including 87 students (65.9%) and 45 faculty/staff members (34.1%). Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire using Likert scales and categorical responses to compare perceptions across generations.

Results from the student cohort reveal significant discomfort in discussing mental health with parents. About 32.1% of students reported low comfort levels, mainly due to fear of worrying their parents (32.6%), generational misunderstandings (31.4%), fear of judgment (27.9%), and dismissive attitudes (26.7%). The study also found that 64.3% of students use AI tools for emotional venting, with key reasons being privacy and freedom from judgment (24.4%), continuous availability (19.8%), and objective responses (14.0%). Additionally, around 30.2% of students considered AI a safer environment for expressing emotions than their home environment.

In contrast, the faculty and staff cohort viewed family communication more positively. 54.5% believed that students can openly discuss stress with their families, indicating a significant misunderstanding of students’ actual experiences. Faculty members recognized the increasing use of AI for emotional support but expressed concerns about inaccurate advice (51.1%), social isolation (42.2%), and excessive dependence on technology (28.9%).

The findings highlight a substantial cross-generational communication gap regarding mental health. Many students avoid family discussions due to fear of misunderstanding and instead turn to AI as a neutral, always-available emotional outlet. While AI provides anonymity and immediate support, the study warns that it lacks genuine empathy, professional judgment, and crisis-management capabilities. Consequently, overreliance on AI may weaken human relationships and increase long-term social isolation. The research concludes that AI is increasingly supplementing—and in some cases replacing—traditional human support systems among engineering undergraduates, emphasizing the need for improved family communication and mental health awareness.

Conclusion

This study successfully maps a critical behavioral shift among Gen Z undergraduates, demonstrating that conversational AI tools are no longer restricted to academic or professional productivity. Instead, they are actively supplementing or replacing traditional family support structures during moments of acute emotional stress. The generational perception gap identified between faculty assumptions and student realities highlights a clear need to lower communication barriers within academic and home environments. While AI provides an accessible, short-term emotional outlet, it cannot replace genuine human empathy or professional psychological care. Future research should expand this localized investigation into a broader, multi-institutional study across diverse geographic locations in India. Longitudinal studies are necessary to evaluate the long-term psychological impacts of algorithmic emotional regulation on youth social skills and cognitive development. Finally, designing ethical, privacy-first AI mental health assistants specifically tailored to navigate the unique cultural nuances of Indian student demographics presents an open and valuable avenue for future engineering and interdisciplinary research.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Jaikumar Manohar Gohil, Mrs. Harshada Savkare. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.