Robots for Those in Transition: Exploring Mental Wellness through Design Probes

International students in emerging adulthood face unique challenges as they navigate life transitions and adapt to new environments. These challenges significantly affect their mental well-being. While previous HRI studies have explored robotic solutions to address anxiety through therapeutic guidance, positive psychology, and mood recognition, little is known about design features tailored to the challenges of transition. By deploying co-design probes with 18 international students experiencing mild symptoms of anxiety and depression, we investigate their lived experiences and coping strategies and translate these insights into design implications for social robots. Our findings indicate that participants envisioned robots that create a welcoming living environment through seamless design and provide a sense of agency through achievable tasks. These features were seen as particularly helpful in relieving day-to-day tension in effortless ways. Based on these findings, we discuss how social robots can better support transitions in emerging adulthood.