aceauthentic self-disclosure to generative AI among adolescents with parental attachment anxiety mediated by rumination and depression
Source article: Parental Attachment Anxiety and Adolescents' Authentic Self-Disclosure to Generative AI: The Roles of Rumination, Depression, and Gender
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is increasingly used by adolescents across various domains. While existing research has explored its impact on education and mental health, little attention has been given to adolescents' authentic self-disclosure to GenAI. Drawing on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress and the computers are social actors paradigm, this study examines how parent - adolescent attachment anxiety influences adolescents' authentic self-disclosure to GenAI, with rumination and depressio…
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G 68The G score combines the specificity and measured human impact of the grounded gain claim with the strength of this Trace’s cited sources.In brief
A peer-reviewed study published September 23, 2026 surveyed 685 Chinese adolescents averaging 13.17 years old to examine how parental attachment anxiety relates to authentic self-disclosure to generative AI. It found father and mother attachment anxiety were positively associated with rumination, which was linked to depression, and both rumination and depression were positively associated with disclosure to GenAI through sequential mediation.
The pattern matters because it shows vulnerable adolescents may turn to generative AI for personal disclosure when experiencing attachment-related distress, raising questions about support versus reliance. It remains uncertain whether disclosure to GenAI helps or harms mental health over time, and whether findings extend beyond early adolescents in China or beyond the cross-sectional survey design reported.
Main points
- Study surveyed 685 Chinese adolescents with mean age 13.17, including 324 girls, about attachment anxiety and GenAI disclosure.
- Attachment anxiety with both father and mother was positively associated with rumination, which was positively linked to depression.
- Rumination and depression sequentially mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and authentic self-disclosure to GenAI.
- Multi-group analysis found the effect of rumination on depression was significantly greater among girls than among boys.
The gain
Adolescents with higher rumination and depression showed greater authentic self-disclosure to generative AI, indicating GenAI is being used as an outlet for personal disclosure.
The problem
Adolescents with higher parental attachment anxiety experienced greater rumination and depression, which were associated with increased authentic self-disclosure to generative AI, with stronger rumination-to-depression links among girls.
The rundown
The study drew on cognitive appraisal theory of stress and the computers are social actors paradigm to test pathways from parent-adolescent attachment anxiety to disclosure to GenAI.
Data came from an offline survey of 685 Chinese adolescents, mean age 13.17, with 324 girls, examining father and mother attachment anxiety separately.
Results supported sequential mediation where rumination and depression linked attachment anxiety to authentic self-disclosure, and gender moderated the rumination-depression link.
What this doesn’t fix
Findings are based on a specific sample of Chinese early adolescents surveyed offline, limiting generalizability beyond this population and context.
Sources
- Peer-reviewedHealth Communication2026-09-23
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