This is going to be framed in the usual "weird Japan" way but it's not at all limited to Japan. I don't know if similar studies have been conducted in the US or other other countries (and, as another comment note, the supposed study on which this is based isn't linked in this article), but phenomenon like r/MyBoyfriendIsAI and countless stories about people all around the world becoming entranced by "relationships" with AIs indicate this is not at all unique to Japan. I suspect a sadly large number of people everywhere feel this way, they just want someTHING to talk to if they can't/don't have someONE.