<![CDATA[The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday life continues to increase, not only for information seeking but also for emotional purposes through the presence of AI companions. This phenomenon is especially relevant for individuals who experience barriers in face-to-face social interaction. This study aimed to examine the relationship between dispositional shame and self-disclosure to AI companions among Gen Z young adults. The study used a quantitative approach with purposive sampling. Participants were 182 Gen Z young adults who had experience interacting with AI companions. Data were collected using The Test of Self-Conscious Affect-4 (TOSCA-4) to measure dispositional shame and an adapted version of the Self-Disclosure Index for the AI companion context. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rho correlation. The results showed a significant positive relationship between dispositional shame and self-disclosure to AI companions (r_s = 0.337, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that higher levels of dispositional shame are associated with greater self-disclosure to AI companions. The results also suggest that AI companions may be perceived as a safer interactional space for individuals who are vulnerable to shame and social evaluation. ABSTRAK Penggunaan Artificial Intelligence (AI) dalam kehidupan sehari-hari terus meningkat, tidak hanya untuk mencari informasi, tetapi juga untuk memenuhi kebutuhan emosional melalui kehadiran AI companion. Fenomena ini relevan bagi individu yang mengalami hambatan dalam interaksi sosial tatap muka. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji hubungan antara dispositional shame dan self-disclosure kepada AI companion pada dewasa awal Gen Z. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan teknik purposive sampling. Partisipan penelitian berjumlah 182 dewasa awal Gen Z yang memiliki pengalaman berinteraksi dengan AI companion. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan The Test of Self-Conscious Affect-4 (TOSCA-4) untuk mengukur dispositional shame dan Self-Disclosure Index yang diadaptasi ke konteks AI companion. Analisis data dilakukan dengan uji korelasi Spearman’s rho. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya hubungan positif yang signifikan antara dispositional shame dan self-disclosure kepada AI companion (r_s = 0.337, p < 0.001). Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa semakin tinggi dispositional shame, semakin tinggi pula kecenderungan individu untuk membuka diri kepada AI companion. Hasil ini mengindikasikan bahwa AI companion dapat dipersepsikan sebagai ruang interaksi yang lebih aman bagi individu yang rentan terhadap rasa malu dan penilaian sosial.]]>
