Journal of Teaching Innovation and Reform

Vol. 2 (2026)
Articles

Digital Safe Haven”: Exploring Conversational AI as an Emotionally Supportive Conversational Space for Rural Adolescent Girls in Sichuan, China

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  • Peng Jia Xin,
  • Khar Thoe Ng,
  • Kamolrat Intaratat,
  • Yang Yi Fan,
  • Feng Shihan,
  • Ong Eng Tek
Peng Jia Xin
Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts (FELA), INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Seremban, Malaysia
Khar Thoe Ng
Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts (FELA), INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Seremban, Malaysia
Kamolrat Intaratat
School of Communication Arts, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University,9/9 Mu 9, Chaengwattana Rd., Bangpood, Pakkret, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
Yang Yi Fan
Faculty of Engineering & Quantity Surveying (FEQS)，INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN, Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Seremban, Malaysia
Feng Shihan
Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts (FELA), INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Seremban, Malaysia
Ong Eng Tek
Faculty of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts (FOSSLA), UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Published 2026-06-11

Keywords

  • Conversational AI,
  • Menstrual stigma,
  • Rural education,
  • Psychological safety,
  • Affective engagement,
  • Adolescent girls,
  • Qualitative exploratory study
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Digital Safe Haven”: Exploring Conversational AI as an Emotionally Supportive Conversational Space for Rural Adolescent Girls in Sichuan, China . (2026). Journal of Teaching Innovation and Reform, 2, 20-28. https://doi.org/10.65638/2978-5634.2026.2.03

Abstract

Background; Conventional sexuality education in rural China is constrained by institutional and cultural barriers, and adolescent girls lack psychologically safe spaces to engage with menstrual health information.

Objective; This qualitative exploratory pilot study questions whether conversational AI can act as an emotionally safe, anonymous, non‑judgmental environment, a “Digital Safe Haven,” for rural adolescent girls.

Method; Semi‑structured interviews and AI interaction sessions with 18 junior‑high school girls aged 12–15 in Rong County, Sichuan Province. Purposive sampling with principal nomination; recruitment ceasing at thematic saturation. Reflexive thematic analysis employed for analysis of data.

Results; The girls in our study felt shame in relation to menstruation and actively hid it. When interacting with AI, most found affective barriers lessened and self‑disclosure easier, but negative responses (robotic answers, distrust, perfect preference for human support) were also accounted for.

Conclusion; We cautiously suggest conversational AI may be a “Digital Safe Haven” for some girls, and propose a three‑pillar interpretive lens (Psychological Safety, Online Disinhibition, Affective Engagement) as a spade contextual lens for the time being. Our contribution is less about theorizing everything anew as it is about extending established concepts into an underexplored socio-cultural and educational context.

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