Mental health problems are highly prevalent among emerging adults, yet many young adults remain reluctant to seek professional support due to barriers such as self-stigma and fear of social judgment. As artificial intelligence (AI)-based mental health tools become increasingly common, it is important to understand whether engagement with these technologies influences young adults’ willingness to seek support through novel digital interventions. This study examined whether engagement with general AI chatbots for discussing mental health concerns was associated with willingness to seek support through a hypothetical AI-moderated peer-support platform and whether this relationship was mediated by self-stigma.

This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to measure the use of AI chatbots, self-stigma, and intentions to use the hypothetical AI-moderated peer-support platform. The results demonstrated that engagement with general AI chatbots was positively associated with willingness to seek AI-moderated peer support. Contrary to expectations, engagement with AI chatbots was positively, though not significantly, associated with self-stigma. Furthermore, the mediating role of self-stigma was not supported. Future longitudinal research is needed to clarify the directionality of these associations and to examine alternative mechanisms.