Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41768145›Full record

ArticleProceedings of the ACM on human-computer interaction2025

Large Language Model Agents for Improving Engagement with Behavior Change Interventions: Application to Digital Mindfulness.

Harsh Kumar, Suhyeon Yoo, Angela Zavaleta Bernuy, Jiakai Shi, Huayin Luo, Joseph Jay Williams, Anastasia Kuzminykh, Ashton Anderson, Rachel Kornfield

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Proceedings of the ACM on human-computer interaction, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. The benefits and dangers of anthropomorphic conversational agents.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Harsh KumarUniversity of Toronto, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-2878-3986
Suhyeon YooUniversity of Toronto, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-6098-9947
Angela Zavaleta BernuyMcMaster University, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-1228-5774
Jiakai ShiUniversity of Toronto, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-8755-8984
Huayin LuoUniversity of Toronto, Canada.ORCID 0009-0000-7292-1560
Joseph Jay WilliamsUniversity of Toronto, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9122-5242
Anastasia KuzminykhUniversity of Toronto, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5941-4641
Ashton AndersonUniversity of Toronto, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-3089-6883
Rachel KornfieldNorthwestern University, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8542-6913

Funding

Technology Enabled Services for Coordinated Care of Depression in Healthcare SettingsP50MH119029 · NIMH · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO · PI Rachel Kornfield · 2020 to 2026
$10.7M
Adaptive Messaging to Support Depression Self-ManagementK01MH125172 · NIMH · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO · PI KORNFIELD, RACHEL · 2021 to 2025
$865k
NIMH NIH HHS K01 MH125172NIMH NIH HHS P50 MH119029
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Although engagement in self-directed wellness exercises typically declines over time, integrating social support such as coaching can sustain it. However, traditional forms of support are often inaccessible due to the high costs and complex coordination. Large Language Models (LLMs) show promise in providing human-like dialogues that could emulate social support. Yet, in-depth, in situ investigations of LLMs to support behavior change remain underexplored. We conducted two randomized experiments to assess the impact of LLM agents on user engagement with mindfulness exercises. First, a single-session study, involved 502 crowdworkers; second, a three-week study, included 54 participants. We explored two types of LLM agents: one providing information and another facilitating self-reflection. Both agents enhanced users' intentions to practice mindfulness. However, only the information-providing LLM agent, featuring a friendly persona, significantly improved engagement with the exercises. Our findings suggest that specific LLM agents may bridge the social support gap in digital health interventions.

Indexed as

behavior changehabit formationlarge language modelsmindfulnesssocial supportsupportive accountabilitywell-being

Identifiers

PMID41768145
PMCPMC12945337

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.