Behavioral intention to use mental health chatbots in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional UTAUT-based study

Despite the growing burden of mental health conditions in Saudi Arabia, sociocultural stigma, privacy concerns, and structural barriers leave a substantial proportion of the population with unmet psychological needs. Mental health chatbots offer an anonymous, accessible, and low-barrier alternative to traditional care, aligning with the Kingdom's digital health transformation goals. This study investigated factors associated with behavioral intention to use mental health chatbots among adults in Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among adults in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, mental health history, prior use of chatbots, technology acceptance based on a modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, and perceived barriers.

Among 533 participants (mean age 30.5 ± 11.7 years), 35.3% reported current psychological symptoms, and 51.6% reported needing psychological support during the previous year. Overall, 59.0% supported the integration of mental health chatbots into psychological services. In the primary multivariable linear regression analysis, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social influence, and perceived need for psychological consultation were independently associated with higher behavioral intention.

Behavioral intention to use mental health chatbots was primarily associated with perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and social influence. Perceived self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and most demographic characteristics were not independently associated with behavioral intention. These findings may inform the design and future evaluation of culturally appropriate mental health chatbot interventions in Saudi Arabia, although further research is needed to assess their real-world effectiveness and safety.