# Studying Self-Care with Generative AI Tools: Lessons for Design

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.05458 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.05458/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 8 May 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Reimagining Personal Data: Unlocking the Potential of AI-Generated Images in Personal Data Meaning-Making](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.18853/) (2025)
- [Designing KRIYA: An AI Companion for Wellbeing Self-Reflection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.14589/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The rise of generative AI presents new opportunities for the understanding and practice of self-care through its capability to generate varied content, including self-care suggestions via text and images, and engage in dialogue with users over time. However, there are also concerns about accuracy and trustworthiness of self-care advice provided via AI. This paper reports our findings from workshops, diaries, and interviews with five researchers and 24 participants to explore their experiences and use of generative AI for self-care. We analyze our findings to present a framework for the use of generative AI to support five types of self-care, - advice seeking, mentorship, resource creation, social simulation, and therapeutic self-expression - mapped across two dimensions - expertise and modality. We discuss how these practices shift the role of technologies for self-care from merely offering information to offering personalized advice and supporting creativity for reflection, and we offer suggestions for using the framework to investigate new self-care designs.