JED Study: Over Half of Teens Turn to AI When Struggling Emotionally
More than half of middle and high school students use AI when they feel sad, stressed, lonely, or overwhelmed, according to new research from The Jed Foundation (JED). The report also finds that certain uses of AI are associated with poorer mental health and a greater history of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
- More than half of surveyed students (57%) use AI when sad, stressed, lonely, or overwhelmed, according to JED.
- The report covers more than 5,500 students across 21 U.S. schools, with data from October 2025 to April 2026.
- Using AI for advice or companionship is associated with more anxiety, depression, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts.
- Middle schoolers, females, and several marginalized groups were more likely to use AI when emotionally struggling.
- JED urges AI design that recognizes distress and connects youth to real support, not a substitute for trusted adults.
What the report examined
The report is titled Exploring Artificial Intelligence [AI]: Understanding Relationships between AI Use and Mental Health Among Middle and High School Students. It draws on responses collected between October 2025 and April 2026 from more than 5,500 middle and high school students across 21 U.S. schools enrolled in JED's programs.
According to JED, the research was developed with input from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital and funded by the Nielsen Foundation. The organization describes it as among the first studies to look at relationships between young people's AI use and their mental health, well-being, and history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Students were asked how and why they use AI, including whether they use it for emotional support. They also reported on recent symptoms of anxiety and depression, loneliness, and any history of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Key findings on how teens use AI
Students use AI for both cognitive and emotional support, JED reports:
- 58% use it for help with schoolwork
- 57% use it when sad, stressed, lonely, or overwhelmed
- 28% use it for relationship or problem-solving advice
- 12% use it for friendship and companionship
The report finds that certain uses are associated with worse mental health and well-being outcomes and a greater lifetime history of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Students who used AI for homework had higher levels of loneliness and history of suicidal thoughts. Those who used it for relationship or problem-solving advice had greater symptoms of anxiety and depression, loneliness, and history of suicidal thoughts.
Students who used AI for friendship or companionship showed greater symptoms of anxiety and depression, loneliness, and history of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Students who use AI while emotionally struggling also had worse mental health and well-being outcomes, and a greater history of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
The findings describe associations, and the release does not claim that AI use causes these outcomes.
Differences across groups
Patterns of use varied by demographic group, which JED says has important implications for mental health disparities. Middle schoolers, females, and many youth from historically marginalized groups, including American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students, were more likely to use AI when emotionally struggling than high schoolers, males, and white students.
What JED says should happen next
Dr. Kayla Anderson, JED's vice president of research and evaluation and the report's author, said the findings warrant careful attention from those deploying these tools and from policymakers. "While AI may offer youth an immediate and accessible outlet, it cannot replicate the developmental, protective, and necessary benefits of human connection," she said.
JED's position is that human connection must remain central, that AI should never be positioned as a substitute for trusted adults, and that responsible AI design must prioritize recognizing distress in youth and connecting them to real support.
The report includes recommendations for the AI and technology industry, policymakers, youth-serving professionals, and parents and caregivers. The full report and tips are available for download from JED.
