🤖 AI Summary
Current conversational agent research predominantly focuses on individual psychological interventions, leaving a critical gap in the design of emotion-support systems for romantic partnerships.
Method: We conducted a PRISMA-compliant systematic review (12 empirical studies) and thematic analysis, integrating attachment theory, relational systems theory, and human-AI interaction design principles.
Contribution/Results: We propose the first relationship-centered conversational agent design paradigm, introducing the novel “relationship expert” role. This framework articulates eight evidence-informed design guidelines spanning multimodal interaction, ethical safety, emotional competence, multi-stakeholder alliance building, cultural responsiveness, and relational emotional safety. It bridges theoretical and practical gaps in couple-oriented AI mental health interventions and provides an actionable, theoretically grounded blueprint for developing next-generation agents capable of relational awareness and dynamic adaptation.
📝 Abstract
The development of conversational agents (CAs) has shown strong potential in supporting mental health through dialogue. While many studies focus on CAs for individual psychological care, research on agents designed for couples facing relational or emotional challenges remains limited. This study aims to identify design considerations for CAs that address the relational context of couples and support their well-being. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted across seven databases: CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and the ACM Digital Library. Peer-reviewed empirical studies were screened, duplicates removed, and selection criteria applied, resulting in twelve studies for analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted across three dimensions: AI interaction design, relational framing, and technical limitations. Three key themes emerged: (1) the need for a relational expert persona, (2) technological directions leveraging state-of-the-art AI for relational specificity and emotional competence, and (3) a shift from content-centered to relationship-centered design. Based on these insights, eight design considerations are proposed for couple-oriented CAs: (1) agent persona, (2) individual mode, (3) concurrent mode, (4) conjoint mode, (5) ethics, (6) data and privacy, (7) interaction pattern, and (8) safety mechanism. These principles guide CAs as relational mediators capable of maintaining multiple alliances, respecting cultural and ethical boundaries, and ensuring fairness and emotional safety between partners. Ultimately, this review introduces a design framework that integrates relational theory with advanced AI technologies to inform future development of CAs for couple-based mental health interventions.