Nearly three in five students say they turn to AI when sad, stressed, or lonely, JED research finds - Emma Thompson, EdTech Innovation Hub

Four in five middle and high school students have used some form of AI, and nearly three in five have turned to it while feeling sad, stressed, or lonely, according to preliminary findings previewed by The Jed Foundation (JED) at a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. The suicide prevention nonprofit, which partners with high schools, colleges, school districts, and community organizations, gathered the data between October 2025 and April 2026 from more than 5,500 students at 21 U.S. schools and school districts already enrolled in its programs. Dr. Kayla Anderson, JED's vice president of research and evaluation, led the work. Full results are expected in the fall. Academic use dominates, but it is not the whole picture. More than half of students reported using AI for schoolwork. Nearly one third used it for relationship or problem-solving advice, and more than one in ten talked to AI for companionship.

https://www.edtechinnovationhub.com/news/nearly-three-in-five-students-say-they-turn-to-ai-when-sad-stressed-or-lonely-jed-research-finds