ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Dement.
Sec. Dementia Care
This article is part of the Research TopicSocial Robots in Dementia Care and WellnessView all articles
Exploring Intergenerational Interactions with Tiny Social Robots: A Qualitative Study
Provisionally accepted
Lillian Hung*
Jiangning Fu
Veronica Moros VillarroelPristine VegaYong ZhaoKruti RavalPaulina SantaellaDavid Shao- The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Background: With the rapid aging of Canada's population, more older adults are choosing to "aging in place," yet they face challenges of social isolation and health risks. Emerging social robots are considered to have potential in reducing loneliness and promoting intergenerational communication. Objective: This study aimed to explore how two tiny social robots (EMO and AIBI) support intergenerational interactions between older adults and university students, focusing on their emotional value, functionality, and perceived risks or limitations. Methods: We applied the Interpretive Description qualitative methodology. Three focus groups were conducted in community settings, including 13 older adults (aged 51–81 years, including two in their early fifties who were active members of the lab's older adult partner group) and 13 university students (>18 years). The study involved separate introductions to the robots for each group, intergenerational joint sessions, and thematic analysis, following COREQ guidelines. Results: Three key themes emerged: (1) Emotional and companionship value—older adults highlighted improved mood, reduced loneliness, and practical benefits such as reminders; (2) Concerns about limitations and risks—students emphasized technical challenges, sustainability, and risks including over-reliance, communication barriers, and maintenance; (3) Bridging generations— both groups recognized the robots' role in fostering shared engagement and emotional resonance across age groups. Conclusion: Tiny social robots show promise in enhancing older adults' emotional well-being and fostering intergenerational connections. Differences in perspectives underscore the need for co-design approaches that integrate older adults lived experiences with younger people' concerns for usability and safety.
Keywords: Tiny social robots, intergenerational connections, older adults, social well-being, qualitative study
Received: 04 Sep 2025; Accepted: 17 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Hung, Fu, Villarroel, Vega, Zhao, Raval, Santaella and Shao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Lillian Hung, lillian.hung@ubc.ca
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.