Robot-Initiated Social Control of Sedentary Behavior: Comparing the Impact of Relationship- and Target-Focused Strategies

TL;DR

This study compares relationship- and target-focused social control strategies used by robots to promote reduced sedentary behavior, revealing that relationship strategies increase activity duration and attachment influences response to health-focused persuasion.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence on how different social control strategies by robots affect health behavior change and user engagement in repeated interactions.

Findings

Relationship-focused strategies increase activity duration.

Repeated interactions do not strengthen robot-user relationship.

Attachment level influences response to target-focused strategies.

Abstract

To design social robots to effectively promote health behavior change, it is essential to understand how people respond to various health communication strategies employed by these robots. This study examines the effectiveness of two types of social control strategies from a social robot, relationship-focused strategies (emphasizing relational consequences) and target-focused strategies (emphasizing health consequences), in encouraging people to reduce sedentary behavior. A two-session lab experiment was conducted (n = 135), where participants first played a game with a robot, followed by the robot persuading them to stand up and move using one of the strategies. Half of the participants joined a second session to have a repeated interaction with the robot. Results showed that relationship-focused strategies motivated participants to stay active longer. Repeated sessions did not strengthen participants' relationship with the robot, but those who felt more attached to the robot responded more actively to the target-focused strategies. These findings offer valuable insights for designing persuasive strategies for social robots in health communication contexts.