Can AI alleviate loneliness? The role of psychological closeness, co-presence and enjoyment in digital workout environment

Feng, Ying, Cheah, Jun-Hwa, Sorosrungruang, Tippayanet, Meng, Jie and Xia, Senmao (2026) Can AI alleviate loneliness? The role of psychological closeness, co-presence and enjoyment in digital workout environment. Internet Research, 36 (3). pp. 926-946. ISSN 1066-2243

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Abstract

Purpose: This study examines whether and how AI fitness instructors can foster psychological closeness and the alleviation of loneliness compared to human instructors. Design/methodology/approach: The study involves 592 participants in online fitness environments and employs a quasi-experimental design. Data are subsequently analyzed using variance-based structural equation modeling. Findings: Human instructors have a more pronounced positive effect on psychological closeness, resulting in the alleviation of loneliness. However, AI instructors also demonstrate potential to foster emotional connections, particularly when there is a high level of co-presence and perceived enjoyment. Co-presence and perceived enjoyment reduce the psychological gap between human and AI instructors, amplifying the positive effects of psychological closeness on alleviating loneliness. Research limitations/implications: This study relies on a quasi-experimental design and short-term exposure to AI fitness instructors, which may limit causal inference and the generalizability of the findings to long-term human–AI relationships. Practical implications: The findings highlight practical implications for designing AI-driven platforms in fitness, healthcare and education to enhance emotional well-being and alleviate loneliness through personalized experiences. Originality/value: This study advances the literature on human–AI interaction by empirically demonstrating how AI instructors can foster psychological closeness and alleviate loneliness in digital fitness contexts. By integrating psychological closeness, co-presence and perceived enjoyment within a unified framework, the research extends social presence and Computer as Social Actor perspectives to AI-mediated well-being outcomes. The findings offer novel insights into how AI systems can be designed to narrow the psychological gap between human and artificial agents.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	ai agents,co-presence,consumer well-being,digital workout,enjoyment,human-agent interaction,loneliness,psychological closeness,sdg 3 - good health and well-being,3* ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Marketing
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	16 Jun 2026 09:12
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 09:12
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/103405
DOI:	10.1108/INTR-11-2024-1843

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