Welfare – Wellbeing

Wellbeing is one of the more direct ways in which social robots are expected to matter in everyday life. Beyond efficiency, assistance, or task completion, robots are increasingly designed to support how people feel, think, and cope with daily experiences. In human-robot interaction, this includes emotional comfort, mental health support, and a general sense of psychological stability that can emerge from sustained interaction with a robot. Within the broader value of welfare, wellbeing refers specifically to the mental aspects of a user's experience. This includes emotional states such as comfort, peace of mind, and psychological stability.

Robots can contribute to wellbeing by enabling users to express themselves, reflect on their thoughts, and receive guidance or advice in moments of uncertainty or distress. As identified in the scoping review, this can range from structured support, such as mental health interventions, to more informal companionship-like interactions where the robot simply provides a non-judgmental presence. The literature highlights several recurring ways in which robots are linked to wellbeing in practice. Robots are described as supporting emotional disclosure and self-reflection, for instance when "robots as avatars" are used to facilitate self-knowledge and emotional expression. In eldercare contexts, interactions with robots such as Paro have been associated with improved feelings among residents, suggesting that even relatively simple social responses can positively affect mood. At the same time, wellbeing is not only about comfort but also about safety and psychological security: socially assistive robots have been seen as offering reassurance, with participants noting that older adults may feel safer knowing a robot is nearby and able to alert caregivers if needed.

Other studies point to more nuanced effects. Robots can encourage self-awareness, where "one's own behavior, motives, thoughts, and desires become more transparent" through interaction. In educational and domestic settings, robots are sometimes perceived as fun and motivational, with teachers noting that children would "really enjoy that" presence in the classroom. However, concerns also emerge: reliance on consistent robotic responses may risk placing users, especially children, into "a negative rut". Even everyday interactions, such as using voice assistants when upset, reveal both the potential and the limits of robotic support, where empathetic responses may be followed by redirection to human social networks instead.

Overall, the evidence suggests that wellbeing in HRI is not a single effect but a spectrum of influences, ranging from emotional comfort and self-expression to safety and behavioral support. Robots can act as companions, tools for reflection, or sources of reassurance, but their role remains tightly connected to context and user expectations.