Explanipedia

The efficacy, feasibility, and technical outcomes of a GPT-4o-based chatbot Amanda for relationship support: A randomized controlled trial Open

Laura M. Vowels, Matthew J. Vowels, Shannon M. Sweeney, Stephen Hatch, Joëlle Darwiche · 2025

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy, feasibility, and technical outcomes of Amanda, a GPT-4-based chatbot, in delivering single-session relationship interventions. A total of 258 participants were randomly assigned to e…

Exploring How Large Language Models Understand Sexual Communication in Hypothetical Sexual Situations Open

Laura M. Vowels, Tiffany L. Marcantonio · 2025

Large language models (LLMs), or models which generate human like responses to people's queries, are growing in popularity and may be an additional tool to access information related to sexual communication - including sexual consent and r…

Correction: When ELIZA meets therapists: A Turing test for the heart and mind Open

Stephen Hatch, Zachary T. Goodman, Laura M. Vowels, H. Dorian Hatch, Alyssa L. Brown , et al. · 2025

Attachment, Perceived Partner Phubbing, and Retaliation: A Daily Diary Study Open

Katherine B. Carnelley, Claire M. Hart, Laura M. Vowels, Tessa Thomas · 2025

Objective We conducted a diary study to investigate the role of adult attachment on responses to daily perceived partner phubbing in a sample of couple members ( N = 196). Method We focused on personal and relational well‐being as well as …

Navigating relationships with GenAI chatbots: User attitudes, acceptability, and potential Open

Laura M. Vowels, Rachel R. R. Francois‐Walcott, Maëlle Grandjean, Joëlle Darwiche, Matthew J. Vowels · 2025

Despite the growing adoption of GenAI chatbots in health and well-being contexts, little is known about public attitudes toward their use for relationship support or the factors shaping acceptance and effectiveness. This study aims to addr…

Phubbed and Furious: Narcissists’ Responses to Perceived Partner Phubbing Open

Claire M. Hart, Katherine B. Carnelley, Laura M. Vowels, Tessa Thomas · 2025

We conducted a diary study to examine how narcissism influences reactions to daily perceived partner phubbing (N = 196). We examined relationships between two facets of narcissism (rivalry and admiration) and personal and relational well-b…

Evaluating the efficacy of Amanda: A voice-based large language model chatbot for relationship challenges Open

Laura M. Vowels, Shannon M. Sweeney, Matthew J. Vowels · 2025

Digital health interventions are increasingly necessary to bridge gaps in mental health care, providing scalable and accessible solutions to address unmet needs. Relationship challenges, a significant driver of individual well-being and di…

When ELIZA meets therapists: A Turing test for the heart and mind Open

Stephen Hatch, Zachary T. Goodman, Laura M. Vowels, H. Dorian Hatch, Alyssa L. Brown , et al. · 2025

“Can machines be therapists?” is a question receiving increased attention given the relative ease of working with generative artificial intelligence. Although recent (and decades-old) research has found that humans struggle to tell the dif…

Exploring How Large Language Models Understand Sexual Communication in Hypothetical Sexual Situations Open

Laura M. Vowels, Tiffany L. Marcantonio · 2024

Large language models (LLMs), or models which generate human like responses to people’s queries, are growing in popularity and may be an additional tool to access information related to sexual communication—including sexual consent and ref…

Evaluating the Efficacy of Amanda: A Voice-Based Large Language Model Chatbot for Relationship Challenges Open

Laura M. Vowels, Shannon M. Sweeney, Matthew J. Vowels · 2024

Digital health interventions are increasingly necessary to bridge gaps in mental health care, providing scalable and accessible solutions to address unmet needs. Relationship challenges, a significant driver of individual well-being and di…

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Sexuality: A Five-Year Literature Review 2020–2024 Open

Nicola Döring, Thuy Dung Le, Laura M. Vowels, Matthew J. Vowels, Tiffany L. Marcantonio · 2024

Purpose of Review Millions of people now use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools in their daily lives for a variety of purposes, including sexual ones. This narrative literature review provides the first scoping overview of cu…

The Evaluation of Efficacy, Feasibility, and Technical Outcomes of a GPT-4o-based Chatbot Amanda for Relationship Support: A Randomized Controlled Trial Open

Laura M. Vowels, Matthew J. Vowels, Shannon M. Sweeney, Stephen Hatch, Joëlle Darwiche · 2024

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy, feasibility, and technical outcomes of Amanda, a GPT-4-based chatbot, in delivering single-session relationship interventions. A total of 258 participants were randomly assigned to e…

Longitudinal evidence over 2 years of the pandemic shows that poor mental health in people living with obesity may be underestimated Open

Matthew J. Vowels, Laura M. Vowels, Jilly Gibson Miller · 2024

It is well-documented that people living with obesity are at greater risk of poorer mental health outcomes. The aim of our study was twofold: First, to examine the longitudinal trajectories of depression and anxiety in people living with o…

Placing a child's or partner's needs above my own: Impacts on a couple's sexual relationship Open

Laura M. Vowels, Natalie M. Sisson, Joëlle Darwiche, Emily A. Impett · 2024

Parent couples often struggle to maintain satisfying sex lives perhaps because partners have different priorities to balance including the self, their relationship with each other, and their relationships with their children. Given that pa…

AI in relationship counselling: Evaluating ChatGPT's therapeutic capabilities in providing relationship advice Open

Laura M. Vowels, Rachel R. R. Francois‐Walcott, Joëlle Darwiche · 2024

Recent advancements in AI have led to chatbots, such as ChatGPT, capable of providing therapeutic responses. Early research evaluating chatbots' ability to provide relationship advice and single-session relationship interventions has showe…

Are chatbots the new relationship experts? Insights from three studies Open

Laura M. Vowels · 2024

Relationship distress is among the most important predictors of individual distress. Over one in three couples report distress in relationships but despite the distress, couples only rarely seek help from couple therapists and instead pref…

When ELIZA Meets Therapists: A Turing Test for the Heart and Mind Open

Stephen Hatch, Zachary T. Goodman, Laura M. Vowels, Doiran Hatch, Alyssa L. Brown , et al. · 2024

“Can machines be therapists?” is a question receiving increased attention given the relative ease of working with generative artificial intelligence. Although recent (and decades-old) research has found that humans struggle to tell the dif…

Navigating Relationships with ChatGPT: User Attitudes, Acceptability, and Potential Open

Laura M. Vowels, Maëlle Grandjean, Rachel R. R. Francois‐Walcott, Joëlle Darwiche, Matthew J. Vowels · 2024

Generative AI technologies like ChatGPT have advanced into mainstream use. Unlike early chatbots with limited responses and interactions, they are capable of providing therapeutic responses and human-like conversations. However, research e…

Navigating Relationships with ChatGPT: User Attitudes, Acceptability, and Potential Open

Laura M. Vowels, Maëlle Grandjean, Rachel R. R. Francois‐Walcott, Joëlle Darwiche · 2024

Generative AI technologies like ChatGPT have advanced into mainstream use. Unlike early chatbots with limited responses and interactions, they are capable of providing therapeutic responses and human-like conversations. However, research e…

Insecure attachment and support-seeking during COVID-19: a sequential mixed methods investigation Open

Rachel R. R. Francois‐Walcott, Rhia E. Perks, Laura M. Vowels, Katherine B. Carnelley · 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic led many couples to stay at home together with minimal contact with others. As social distancing measures reduced contact with outside households, many partners could seek support only from one another. In two studies…

AI in Relationship Counselling: Evaluating ChatGPT’s Therapeutic Capabilities in Providing Relationship Advice Open

Laura M. Vowels, Rachel R. R. Francois‐Walcott, Joëlle Darwiche · 2023

Recent advancements in AI have led to chatbots, such as ChatGPT, capable of providing therapeutic responses. Early research evaluating chatbots’ ability to provide relationship advice and single-session relationship interventions has showe…

Barriers to Seeking Treatment for Sexual Difficulties in Sex Therapy Open

Zoe Sever, Laura M. Vowels · 2023

Despite a high prevalence of sexual difficulties, many individuals never seek or receive care. Although several studies have established barriers to help-seeking for sexual difficulties within general practice, few have assessed barriers s…

Are Chatbots the New Relationship Experts? Insights from Three Studies Open

Laura M. Vowels · 2023

Relationship distress is among the most important predictors of individual distress. Over one in three couples report distress in relationships but despite the distress, couples only rarely seek help from couple therapists and instead pref…

Women’s strategies for navigating a healthy sex life post-sexual trauma Open

Kristen P. Mark, Laura M. Vowels, Lindsey Mullis, Katarina Hoskins · 2023

Sexual trauma is common. Consequences of sexual trauma can include deterioration of mental and physical health and it can also affect future romantic and sexual relationships. Previous studies have identified common healthy and destructive…

Are Digital Interventions the Next Frontier in Sex Therapy? A Mixed Methods Study Examining Attitudes toward Digital Sex Therapy Open

Laura M. Vowels, Zoe Sever · 2023

Digital health interventions can address governments' aims of providing better care, better outcomes, and lower costs. No previous research has examined attitudes toward digital sex therapy to understand what might facilitate, or hinder, t…

Systematic review and theoretical comparison of children’s outcomes in post-separation living arrangements Open

Laura M. Vowels, Chiara Ludovica Comolli, Laura Bernardi, Daniela Chacón-Mendoza, Joëlle Darwiche · 2023

The purpose of the systematic review was to synthesize the literature on children’s outcomes across different living arrangements (nuclear families, shared physical custody [SPC], lone physical custody [LPC]) by extracting and structuring …

Perceived partner phubbing predicts lower relationship quality but partners’ enacted phubbing does not Open

Katherine B. Carnelley, Laura M. Vowels, Sarah C. E. Stanton, Abigail Millings, Claire M. Hart · 2023

Toward a causal link between attachment styles and mental health during the <span>COVID</span> ‐19 pandemic Open

Laura M. Vowels, Matthew J. Vowels, Katherine B. Carnelley, Abigail Millings, Jilly Gibson Miller · 2023

Background Recent research has shown that insecure attachment, especially attachment anxiety, is associated with poor mental health outcomes, especially during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Other research suggests that insecure attachment may be …

Systematic review and theoretical comparison of children’s outcomes in post-separation living arrangements Open

Laura M. Vowels, Chiara Ludovica Comolli, Laura Bernardi, Daniela Chacón-Mendoza, Joëlle Darwiche · 2023

The purpose of the systematic review was to synthesize the literature on children’s outcomes across different living arrangements (nuclear families, shared physical custody [SPC], lone physical custody [LPC]) by extracting and structuring …

Coparenting change after couple therapy using self‐reports and observational data Open

Esther Liekmeier, Laura M. Vowels, Jean‐Philippe Antonietti, Guy Bodenmann, Joëlle Darwiche · 2023

Parent couples are involved in a coparenting bond and in a romantic relationship. Research on couple therapy has mainly explored the impact of couple therapy on romantic relationships; however, little is known about how couple therapy affe…

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