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2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Why Engineering Students Turn to ChatGPT for Emotional Help: Triggers, Motivations, and Desired Features in High-Stress Academic Settings

Presented at CONST 8 - Well‑Being, Equity, and Professional Skills in Construction Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT have become part of students’ everyday academic routines. In engineering education, where heavy workload and performance pressure are common, some students also turn to ChatGPT during periods of academic stress. While existing research largely treats ChatGPT as an academic support tool, less is known about how students use it during stressful academic situations and how they perceive it relative to other sources of support. This study examines survey data from undergraduate engineering students to understand when and why they use ChatGPT during high-stress academic periods. Using descriptive analysis, the study explores common triggers for use, such as exams and assignment deadlines, as well as motivations including immediate availability, convenience, and perceived lack of judgment. The findings also examine which aspects of ChatGPT students find helpful during stressful periods and how they compare its usefulness to other support options, such as peers, family, or institutional services. Results indicate that many students turn to ChatGPT during peak academic pressure because it is easily accessible and responsive, though it is generally viewed as a supplementary resource rather than a replacement for human support. Overall, the study provides descriptive insight into how engineering students integrate ChatGPT into their stress-related academic experiences and highlights considerations for educators and researchers examining the role of AI tools in demanding educational settings.

Authors

Dr. Rizwan U Farooqui http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6692-137X Mississippi State University [biography]

With over 27 years of global experience, Dr. Farooqui has been recently conducting teaching and research in the domain of construction 4.0 technologies, particularly related to construction worker safety and mental health. Simultaneously, Dr. Farooqui has been actively working to improve construction engineering and management education with focus on inculcating leadership skills, critical thinking, emotional intelligence and mental strength. This paper looks at how AI in engineering education is being used by students for emotional support and coping with stress related to engineering education.
Abid Hassan Mississippi State University [biography]

Abid Hassan is a graduate student in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Mississippi State University and a Graduate Research Assistant in the Building Construction Science Department. His research interests include artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and data-driven approaches for improving construction safety, education and workforce.
Dr. Muhammad Umer University of West Florida [biography]

Dr. Muhammad Umer
| Educator | Researcher | Innovator in Construction Engineering and Management
Muhammad Umer is an educator, researcher, and innovator whose work integrates advanced technology with practical challenges in construction engineering and management. He completed his Ph.D. at Auburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science. His dissertation focused on autonomous item localization on active construction sites using Boston Dynamics’ Spot® robot, Bayesian filtering, and AI-based object detection to transform material inventory management.
With 17+ years of academic, research, and professional experience, Umer has taught and mentored at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, blending innovation with inclusivity to foster leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking. He has led workshops on technical writing, proposal development, and AI in research across disciplines.
He holds a B.E. and M.Eng. in Construction from NED University, where he also served for over a decade as lecturer and assistant professor, teaching courses in BIM, quality and safety, entrepreneurship, and project planning. His research spans automation, robotics, AI applications, safety, procurement efficiency, and education innovation.
A Presidential Fellow at Auburn, Umer has earned multiple awards, including consecutive Auburn Research Student Symposium College Awards (2023, 2024) and induction into Sigma Lambda Chi. His work appears in top journals and conferences such as the ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management and ASC Proceedings.
An active contributor to global collaborations, World Bank procurement reviews, and Enel Foundation projects, Umer also coaches and competes in national construction competitions. A member of ASCE and IAARC, he is committed to advancing knowledge, technology, and inclusivity in construction; driven by the belief that excellence lies in uplifting others while building a smarter, more resilient industry.
Dr. George D Ford Mississippi State University [biography]

Dr. George Ford P.E. is a professor of Mississippi State's Building Construction Science (BCS) program. Dr. Ford has 15 years of industrial experience including corporate work, and 16 years of teaching experience at the post-secondary level.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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