A LLM-Based Chatbot for Mindfulness Practice with Older Adults: A Development and Usability Study.
Studies in health technology and informatics – May 15, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
A prototype AI mindfulness coach, fine-tuned from ChatGPT, shows promise in enhancing mental health and wellness for older adults. In a pre-study with 15 participants using a mindfulness app, feedback highlighted essential design elements like voice and interactivity. The chatbot aims to support mindfulness practices tailored to older users, addressing their unique needs in digital health. By integrating large language models into healthcare, this innovative approach could significantly improve mental well-being among older populations, making mindfulness more accessible and engaging.
Abstract
This study explores the development and usability of a Large Language Model (LLM)-based chatbot designed to support mindfulness practice for older adults. In a pre-study, 15 older adults used a commercially available mindfulness app with recorded human guidance for three weeks. Qualitative feedback revealed key design themes including voice, personality, interactivity, and ease of use. Building on the findings of the pre-study, we developed a prototype AI mindfulness coach by fine-tuning OpenAI's ChatGPT on a custom dataset of mindfulness scripts. The AI coach was evaluated through participatory design workshops.