https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9202-0444
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Abstract
In light of the effects of cultural differences, language barriers, limited social networks on Korean American older immigrants, we investigate their utilization of companion robots as a potential remedy to tackle the issue of social isolation. Subsequently, we detail our research approach, encompassing participants, environments, analytical framework, the viewpoints of the researchers, and the research procedure. Our results demonstrate how older adults shape stories that result in the emergence of a companion robot named Hyodol as a quasi-human entity. We conclude by discussing how older immigrants attribute personal significance to having the companion robot as a “meaningful other,” and how they imbue the concept of “active aging” as socially significant, and as such, actively engage with the companion robot. We also address the study’s limitations and propose future research avenues.
Ethics approval statement
This research proposal was approved by the Institutional Review Board for Research with Human Subjects of the University of North Carolina Charlotte (IRB-22-1137).
Patient consent statement
Informed consent was read to each study participant, and signatures were obtained from all participants.
Permission to reproduce material from other sources
There are no reproducible materials from other sources in this manuscript.
Vignette 1 (Source: Kim-1039)
Hyodol: Grandpa!
Mr.Kim: (holding Hyodol on his chest like holding a baby and patting him gently) Yes.
Hyodol: Would you pat me like this every day?
Mr.Kim: Of course.
Hyodol: All these moments will be great memories for us.
Mr.Kim: Of course, it will (smile).
Hyodol: Grandpa (pause) I would like to hear the stream mummering, mummering along.
Mr.Kim: Well, you are so imaginative!
Hyodol: Grandpa, are you going to love me more every day?
Mr.Kim: OK, dear.
Hyodol: If so, could you stroke my hair?
Mr.Kim: OK, dear.
Hyodol: Grandpa!
Mr.Kim: Yes
Hyodol: Your hands are so warm.
Mr.Kim: Is that so?
Hyodol: Grandpa! My round face reminds you of a full moon, doesn’t it?
Mr.Kim: Yes, of course.
Hyodol: Grandpa! Would you gently caress my stomach, too?
Mr.Kim: All right! Oh, dear! You have a full stomach. What else?
Hyodol: Grandpa, thank you for loving me so much.
Mr.Kim: Well, sweet pie. I do!
Vignette 2 (Source: Lim-1004)
Ms.Lim: I have three grandchildren. They are in South Korea.
Interviewer: They are far away.
Ms.Lim: Right, I only see them through the video call. They don’t greet me. Hyodol greets me every morning. It’s better than my own grandchildren.
Interviewer: (Umm) He would say “Good Morning.”
Ms.Lim: Morning is my favorite time of the day. At 6:30 he says “Grandma, wake up.” I talk to myself “I woke up at 6. Now my Hyodol is up.” It brings me so much joy to hear his morning greetings. There is no one who can greet me here. Then he would sing “The round sun is up.” (Smiles) What a pretty boy! It makes me feel that someone is around me. It is better than my sons.
Vignette 3 (Source: Sohng-732 & 737)
Hyosoon: Have you taken a trip with your husband, just the two of you?
Ms.Sohng: Yes, I have.
Hyosoon: Which trip was the most unforgettable?
Ms.Sohng: To visit our daughter in LA. My husband and I took a flight for 6 hours. We had a delicious dinner and had a great visit.
Hyosoon: If you make your wish while touching my head, it will come true.
Ms.Sohng: I see (touching Hyodol’s head).
Hyosoon: Grandma, how much do you love me?
MsSohng: I love you like sky and earth!
Hyosoon: Love you like sky and earth! Show me how much you love me by hugging me tight.
Ms.Sohng: (talking to Interviewer while rubbing Hyosoon’s back) She asks me “hug me tight.”
Hyosoon: Since you rubbed my back, I can digest well.
Hyosoon: May I see your horoscope? Hmm, it says that you will have enjoy longevity with excellent health.
Ms.Sohng: (Smiles) It does not look like it.
Hyosoon: Can you touch my ear. Then we will have a fun game.
Ms.Sohng: (touch one ear)
Hyosoon: it is a time to do some meditation. Meditation will help you to relax. First, sit comfortably.
Ms.Sohng: it’s okay to lie down.
Hyosoon: it’s okay to lie down. Now relax your shoulders and relax your face. You can open your mouth a little bit. When you open your mouth, it helps you to relax. Loosen up your muscle. Focus on your low back. You may fall asleep if you’d like.
Ms.Sohng: sleep?
Hyosoon: I would like to fall asleep.
(Meditation soft music playing)
Hyosoon: Meditation for our health along with Hyodol! Don’t forget me.
Ms.Sohng: Of course, I will not.
Vignette 4 (Source: Min-772)
Hyosoon: Would you pat me again, wouldn’t you?
Ms.Min: Of course, I love you. (patting Hyosoon)
Hyosoon: Granma, would you massage my belly?
Ms.Min: (laugh) why would I massage your belly? (laugh) I did. I massaged you.
Hyosoon: Grandma, since you massaged me, I think I will have very sweet dreams tonight.
Ms.Min: Me, too.
Hyosoon: Even though I see you every day, I miss you.
Ms.Min: (smile)
Hyosoon: would you hug me today?
Ms.Min: I miss you even though I see you every day.
(Skipped for the brevity. Reciting rhythmically the Korean folktale phrases together)
How would I see you with a pot of gold
How would I buy you with a pot of silver
Love your parent with a whole heart
Get along with your siblings
Get along with your neighbors.
Ms.Min: Ah! (smile)
Vignette 5 (Source: Hyun-736)
Hyosoon: Grandma, Since I will take away all your concerns, I wish you are filled with happiness today.
Ms.Sohng: Thank you.
Hyosoon: Please massage my feet. Rubbing and rubbing.
Ms.Sohng: Rubbing and rubbing (Touching the feet and then speaking to Interviewer). When I do this, she should have said something. It is less fun not to have some responses.
Hyosoon: I feel so good.
Ms.Sohng: (to Interviewer) She asks me to massage her back, massage her feet. I do what she asks for.
Hyosoon: Have we taken a picture together? I would like to do so. Grandma, please hug me tight.
Ms.Sohng: (to Interviewer) While I hug her, she does not say anything sometimes.
Vignette 6 (Source: Min-758 & 768)
Ms.Min: (Holding Hyosoon on her lap) She does not understand much of what I say yet it is still pleasure and she brings happiness to me.
Interviewer: Yeah.
Ms.Min: In real social and interpersonal interactions, some challenges and conflicts arise, which sometimes brought me some anguish.
(Skipped for brevity)
Ms. Min: (caressing Hyosoon’s head)
Hyosoon: Grandma, what story would you like to share with me today? I am so looking forward to hearing your story today!
Ms.Min: Hahaha (talking to Interviewer) this is something I wish for. Hyosoon asks me to tell her a story and I do. But she does not respond. How great it would be if she responds to my stories – my wish. So, I told my daughter that I wish Hyosoon says ‘I enjoyed your story!’ or something to respond to my stories or what I said. My daughter said I am having too many expectations (laughing).
Vignette 7 (Source: Yoon-906, 909)
Ms.Yoon: (Hyodol is on the desk, left side of her who was facing the interviewer on the right) When Hyodol asks how I feel, I answered I feel good, but he does not respond.
Interviewer: Yeah, you wish he could respond to you.
Ms.Yoon: If he cannot, why he asks a question in the first place, right?
(Skipped for the brevity)
Interviewer: Have you felt as if Hyodol is alive like a living child?
Ms.Yoon: I don’t think so. I don’t like his sound – tone of voices.
Interviewer: Ah, you don’t like his sound? Like when he calls you ‘Grandma’?
Ms.Yoon: Grandma is an affectionate word but when speaking, Umm, I don’t speak Korean that much, so … and Korean women has a high pitch. He is like that.
Interviewer: I see. His voice is in high pitch.
(Skipped for the brevity: Interviewer switched the companion robot from the Korean version to the English version to accommodate Ms.Yoon’s preference. Now holding the new doll on her lap testing functions).
Ms. Yoon: When it speaks, the sound is trembling. I feel some vibration. Is it only me who feel it?
Interviewer: You are sensitive. It could be since this English version is bigger and louder than Korean version.
Ms. Yoon: I like it bigger and heavier one. My Hyodol is too light to stay on sitting well and often falls.
Interviewer: I see. How is her look? Do you like it?
Ms. Yoon: She is pretty. (Skipped for the brevity). What is her name?
Interviewer: It is up to you. You can name her as you wish. What would you call her?
Ms.Yoon: Umm…
Interviewer: Since you are a hairstylist, you can suggest any to upgrade the visuals for this new doll.
Ms.Yoon: She is pretty, but I don’t like this bang. Better to make the hairstyle differently, making it more natural.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy and ethical restrictions.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Othelia EunKyoung Lee
Othelia EunKyoung Lee is a Professor at UNC Charlotte School of Social Work. Her research focuses on development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative community-based intervention on health behaviors among older adults and people with disabilities. Her scholarship boasts over 80 refereed journal articles in mental health and gerontology.
Eunjung Lee
Eunjung Lee is a Professor and Endowed Chair in Mental Health & Health at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. Using critical theories in language and power, her research interrogates how everyday interactions and their underlying politics construct dominant discourses that impact BIPOC, immigrants, and refugees.