Understanding university students' attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventions
Internet-based interventions are recognised as a practical approach to address mental health issues. The acceptance and utilisation of such interventions are closely linked to user attitudes and preferences. This study aims to examine the predictors of university students' attitudes towards int...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Internet Interventions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000150 |
| _version_ | 1797277348264935424 |
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| author | Ömer Özer Burak Köksal Ahmet Altinok |
| author_facet | Ömer Özer Burak Köksal Ahmet Altinok |
| author_sort | Ömer Özer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Internet-based interventions are recognised as a practical approach to address mental health issues. The acceptance and utilisation of such interventions are closely linked to user attitudes and preferences. This study aims to examine the predictors of university students' attitudes towards internet-based interventions. Additionally, it seeks to elucidate students' preferences regarding crucial features of these interventions, such as the format, delivery mode, content type, and structural components, to understand better what makes these interventions appealing and practical for university students.A total of 273 university students (comprising 68 % females and 32 % males) participated in the study. The data collection instruments employed were the Personal Information Form, Internet-Based Intervention Preference Survey, E-therapy Attitude Measure (ETAM), Digital Literacy Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). The data were analysed utilising descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis.The multiple regression analysis revealed digital literacy as a predictive factor for attitudes towards internet-based interventions. Demographic variables, such as age and gender, and psychological variables, such as depression and anxiety levels, were found not to be associated with attitudes towards these interventions.While students are actively seeking mental health information online, a significant majority remain unaware of internet-based interventions. They show a preference for interventions offering greater human interaction, including face-to-face guidance and video content featuring people. Participants favour completing one or two sessions of the intervention weekly. Desired features of internet-based interventions include self-assessment scales, relatable characters, voice relaxation exercises, practical daily life activity tasks, and weekly reminders throughout the process.In conclusion, initiatives aimed at enhancing digital literacy levels could foster more positive attitudes towards internet-based interventions among students. Developers creating Internet-Based Interventions (IBI) for university students should consider these preferences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:46:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b641535651b4648833fca9ba6dd0b28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-7829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:46:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Interventions |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b641535651b4648833fca9ba6dd0b282024-03-05T04:29:51ZengElsevierInternet Interventions2214-78292024-03-0135100722Understanding university students' attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventionsÖmer Özer0Burak Köksal1Ahmet Altinok2Department of Social Work and Consultancy, Open Education Faculty, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, TurkiyeCounseling and Guidance Center, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, TurkiyeDepartment of Psychology, Experimental Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Corresponding author at: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands.Internet-based interventions are recognised as a practical approach to address mental health issues. The acceptance and utilisation of such interventions are closely linked to user attitudes and preferences. This study aims to examine the predictors of university students' attitudes towards internet-based interventions. Additionally, it seeks to elucidate students' preferences regarding crucial features of these interventions, such as the format, delivery mode, content type, and structural components, to understand better what makes these interventions appealing and practical for university students.A total of 273 university students (comprising 68 % females and 32 % males) participated in the study. The data collection instruments employed were the Personal Information Form, Internet-Based Intervention Preference Survey, E-therapy Attitude Measure (ETAM), Digital Literacy Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). The data were analysed utilising descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis.The multiple regression analysis revealed digital literacy as a predictive factor for attitudes towards internet-based interventions. Demographic variables, such as age and gender, and psychological variables, such as depression and anxiety levels, were found not to be associated with attitudes towards these interventions.While students are actively seeking mental health information online, a significant majority remain unaware of internet-based interventions. They show a preference for interventions offering greater human interaction, including face-to-face guidance and video content featuring people. Participants favour completing one or two sessions of the intervention weekly. Desired features of internet-based interventions include self-assessment scales, relatable characters, voice relaxation exercises, practical daily life activity tasks, and weekly reminders throughout the process.In conclusion, initiatives aimed at enhancing digital literacy levels could foster more positive attitudes towards internet-based interventions among students. Developers creating Internet-Based Interventions (IBI) for university students should consider these preferences.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000150Internet-based interventionsDigital literacyAttitudes towards internet-based interventionsPsychotherapy preferencesE-health |
| spellingShingle | Ömer Özer Burak Köksal Ahmet Altinok Understanding university students' attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventions Internet Interventions Internet-based interventions Digital literacy Attitudes towards internet-based interventions Psychotherapy preferences E-health |
| title | Understanding university students' attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventions |
| title_full | Understanding university students' attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventions |
| title_fullStr | Understanding university students' attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding university students' attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventions |
| title_short | Understanding university students' attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventions |
| title_sort | understanding university students attitudes and preferences for internet based mental health interventions |
| topic | Internet-based interventions Digital literacy Attitudes towards internet-based interventions Psychotherapy preferences E-health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000150 |
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