ABSTRACT
The primary objective of our study is to investigate whether using a Hugvie, a human-shaped pillow, can alleviate the anxiety associated with conversing with an unknown person over the phone for those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We recruited 24 ASD participants who engaged in phone conversations either solely with a mobile phone or in conjunction with Hugvie. They completed questionnaires that assessed their self-confidence during the phone calls and provided salivary samples at four distinct times each day. Our findings demonstrated that while hugging a Hugvie, ASD individuals showed an increase in self-confidence and a cortisol reduction compared to those who did not utilize Hugvie. Consequently, we support the integration of huggable devices like Hugvie as supplementary aids to support ASD individuals in phone interactions with unknown persons.
