Caring for a loved one can be one of life’s most meaningful roles, but it often comes with heavy emotional costs.
Many informal caregivers—people who look after sick or disabled relatives or friends without pay—become so focused on the needs of others that they lose sight of their own.
They may not have the time, energy, or opportunity to talk about their own struggles, which can leave them feeling lonely, stressed, and invisible.
Now, researchers at the University of Cambridge have explored a surprising way to help: regular conversations with a humanoid robot.
In a first-of-its-kind study, published in the International Journal of Social Robotics, the team found that chats with the robot not only gave caregivers a safe space to talk about themselves but also helped them feel less stressed and isolated.
Over time, participants reported improvements in their mood, greater acceptance of their caregiving role, and better emotional balance.
The researchers worked with a group of caregivers whose responsibilities ranged from raising children with disabilities to supporting partners with dementia.
For five weeks, participants spoke twice a week to Pepper, a social robot designed to hold simple conversations and respond in supportive ways.
At the start, many caregivers were hesitant, but as the sessions continued, they began to open up more. They started talking to Pepper for longer periods, sharing more personal reflections and emotions. The robot became a kind of companion—something they could turn to when human connection was scarce.
“Caregivers often lack space to talk about themselves,” said lead researcher Dr. Guy Laban from Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology. “Conversations with the robot gave them that missing opportunity. Many said it helped them feel less lonely and overwhelmed, and more in touch with their own needs.”
The study also revealed that speaking to a robot could help caregivers process unspoken feelings. By talking out loud, participants were able to reframe their caregiving role in more positive terms, letting go of feelings of blame or resentment and finding greater acceptance.
Caregivers are often at risk of burnout because of limited social interaction and shrinking personal time. While friends or support groups can help, these aren’t always available. The researchers suggest that social robots could fill part of that gap by providing a nonjudgmental outlet for expression.
Professor Emily Cross, a co-author from ETH Zürich, said the findings highlight how technology could play a supportive role in emotional health.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that a series of conversations with a robot can significantly reduce loneliness and stress in caregivers. It points to exciting possibilities for how social robots could offer comfort when human support is hard to find.”
As robots like Pepper become more advanced and accessible, they may one day offer caregivers not just practical help, but also much-needed emotional relief.
