Diaphragmatic Breathing Guidance Using a Humanoid Robot with a Soft Robotic Haptic Interface for Anxiety Reduction
Résumé
Anxiety disorders profoundly affect individuals’ well-being and daily lives, manifesting in both physical and emotional symptoms. Although pharmacological treatments and cognitive-behavioral therapies are commonly used, diaphragmatic breathing exercises have shown promise as a non-pharmacological intervention. This work presents an innovative device: a silicone haptic interface mounted on the chest of a humanoid robot, designed to simulate human heartbeat and breathing. This device, employing a baromorphic system design, offers a good representation of human respiration. Our study assesses the effectiveness of this haptic interface in guiding diaphragmatic breathing exercises to reduce anxiety levels. Eighteen participants underwent a standard anxiety-inducing procedure followed by a guided diaphragmatic breathing exercise with the robot. They were divided into two groups: ten with the haptic interface and eight without it. Both groups experienced similar reductions in anxiety levels. Those using the haptic interface reported the robot as more natural and supportive in post-experiment interviews. This exploratory study illustrates the potential of social robots with haptic interfaces to enhance therapeutic practices for anxiety reduction.