Title: Factors influencing intention to use a social robot for supporting childcare: an empirical study among professional workers in Malaysia

Authors: Yulita Hanum P. Iskandar

Addresses: Graduate School of Business, Univeristi Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Abstract: A social robot is a hypothetical artificial intelligence system which is designed to interact with humans and with other robots. This study investigates the main factors influencing the intention to use a social robot among professional workers in Malaysia. A total sample of 259 professional workers in Penang, Malaysia participated in this study. A quantitative approach was employed using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, adapted from previous studies. The data was analysed using SPSS. The results indicated all 12 variables correlated significantly (p < 0.01) with the intention to use a social robot, and, with the exception of attitude, privacy concerns, and legal concerns, inter-correlated significantly (p < 0.01). Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that four variables were the most significant contributors to the intention to use, accounting for 74% of the intention to use variance. The results of this study provide useful insights into the variables influencing usage intention of professional.

Keywords: intention to use; social robot; supporting childcare; professional working parents; Malaysia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2026.152206

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2026 Vol.51 No.3, pp.394 - 415

Received: 01 Mar 2022
Accepted: 02 Jul 2022
Published online: 11 Mar 2026 *

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