Towards the Development of a Robot for Well-Being: Applying the Motivation, Engagement, and Thriving in User Experience (METUX) Model

This study examines the validity of the Motivation, Engagement, and Thriving in User Experience (METUX) model for evaluating remote operation interfaces of an assistive robot. Multiple real-life scenarios involving various target users were explored to assess whether Self-Determination Theory (SDT) factors in METUX effectively represent user well-being. Survey data from 2300 samples across three interfaces and four user groups underwent descriptive analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Multi-Group CFA (MGCFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Results show significant correlations between SDT-defined Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) and well-being indicators, allowing researchers to examine well-being through interaction with assistive robots. MGCFA supported measurement invariance across interfaces but not across user groups, suggesting user-needs-centric interface development. The findings highlight the importance of validating metrics before product evaluation. In conjunction with planned user research in real-life settings using established metrics, our approach addresses research gaps in user well-being assessment within the HRI field.