2026 ECNP Congress

PS04-4042

Relationship among artificial intelligence and attitudes, mindfulness, and empathy

Mehmet Asım Ayvazoğlu — E.B. Yoldaş, Y.B. Güneş, M.A. Yılmazgil, H.G. Peker, E.Z. Karaoğlan, Ö. Sahmelikoglu Onur · Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Faculty of medicine, Psychiatry, Tekirdağ, Türkiye

2026 ECNP Congress

Introduction:Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology reshaping data processing and human-machine interaction [1].There is a growing body of literature indicating that artificial intelligence–based interventions can enhance empathy and increase mindfulness-related awareness[2,3,4].Despite growing interest in this area, studies exploring how empathy and mindfulness relate to attitudes toward artificial intelligence are still limited, indicating an important gap in the literature. Aim:This study aims to investigate the associations between attitudes toward artificial intelligence and key psychological constructs (empathy, insight, and mindfulness), as well as to examine how individual differences in cognitive awareness and empathy influence perceptions of AI. Methods:This study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 120 patient relatives aged 18–65 years, recruited from Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Hospital between April 1 and May 1, 2026. Participation was voluntary, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant institutional ethics committee prior to data collection. Individuals were included if they were within the specified age range, were relatives of patients at the study site, and provided consent; those with known active psychiatric disorders or cognitive or language-related barriers that could interfere with survey completion were excluded. Data were collected using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), AI Perception and Attitude Scale, and a sociodemographic form. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 18, including descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and frequency distributions), independent samples t-tests for group comparisons, chi-square tests for categorical variables, and Pearson correlation analyses to assess relationships between variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results:The sample consisted of 120 participants, and descriptive analyses were conducted for demographic variables including age, gender, and education. Correlation analyses suggested a positive association between attitudes toward artificial intelligence and mindfulness (MAAS) levels. Additionally, empathy scores appeared to be related to openness toward AI integration in clinical settings.Although a positive trend was observed, this relationship did not reach statistical significance within the current sample (p>0.05). Comparative analyses using independent samples t-tests indicated no statistically significant differences in AI attitudes based on gender (p>0.05); however, screen time and familiarity with technology showed some association with attitudes toward AI (p<0.05) Conclusion:Our findings indicate a positive relationship between AI attitudes and constructs of mindfulness and empathy. These results suggest that psychological factors play a role in how AI is perceived, highlighting the importance of considering human-centric traits for the future integration of AI in healthcare and society.This study provides a comprehensive evaluation by examining AI attitudes alongside empathy, mindfulness, and insight components specifically within a clinical sample of patient relatives in Türkiye.The cross-sectional design and the relatively small sample size limit the ability to establish causal relationships and may have contributed to the lack of statistical significance in observed correlations.

References

  1. Turanov, S. (2025). Exploring the transformative power of artificial intelligence in modern society. Science and Education, 6(10), 105-109.
  2. Park, J., & Woo, S. E. (2022). Who likes artificial intelligence? Personality predictors of attitudes toward artificial intelligence. The Journal of psychology, 156(1), 68-94.
  3. Young, A. T., Amara, D., Bhattacharya, A., & Wei, M. L. (2021). Patient and general public attitudes towards clinical artificial intelligence: a mixed methods systematic review. The lancet digital health, 3(9), e599-e611.
  4. Shen, J., DiPaola, D., Ali, S., Sap, M., Park, H. W., & Breazeal, C. (2024). Empathy toward artificial intelligence versus human experiences and the role of transparency in mental health and social support chatbot design: Comparative study. JMIR Mental Health, 11(1), e62679.