Hall, Tanya Lee (2015) The profile of an e-health preferer: exploring personality and individual characteristics. Coursework Masters thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Mental health is a growing and costly issue for Governments around the world including Australia. Unfortunately, adults have difficulty accessing treatment due to a range of obstacles such as stigma, cost, limited face-to-face therapist accessibility, and avoidance. In recent years, the availability of Internet delivered therapy, both therapist supported and self-guided, has grown tremendously in an attempt to overcome some of these barriers. Studies have found that online interventions, referred to as e mental health (eMH) services, can be just as effective as face-to-face treatment, but with improved accessibility and significantly reduced costs. Unfortunately, the uptake of eMH services is low and previous research has focused on testing the efficacy of online interventions rather than determining the users most likely to engage in these services, either self-directed or via referral. A theoretical model based on anecdotal experience and research was designed to predict the variables contributing to a eMH preference was developed in 2009, however research to validate this model or eMH preference is limited. Key research questions exist around who would choose eMH services and who should be referred to eMH services. This cross sectional study aimed to explore the profile of an eMH preferer versus a traditional face-to-face (F2F) preferer by testing a component of a theoretical eMH preferer model and extending a recent Australian study which examined the relationship between user characteristics and eMH preference. This study examined the relationship between eMH preference and the predictor variables of demographic factors (age, gender); individual factors (perceived helpfulness, computer confidence and literacy); the problem presentation (anxiety); and the personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness. This study aimed to determine the relationship between eMH preference, personality and the presence of anxiety as considerations for clinicians, doctors or other health professionals when referring a patient to an eMH service. Furthermore, this study aimed to explore other factors, including demographics and computer literacy and confidence, which have been found to influence Internet and online services behaviour and may influence a therapy delivery preference. Data was collected via an online survey, completed by 308 participants, with an age range between 17 to 68 years, and a mean age of 34. The participants included 54 males and 254 females, a large gender difference. This study was exploratory and included analysis of factors including gender, age, current mental health status, and beliefs and attitudes towards a range of therapy options including face-to-face and online therapy. This research focused on different facets of personality, traditionally linked to mental health status, as factors that may predict therapy preference. Results found that personality trait of extraversion had a significant relationship with eMH preference, contributing most to the total predictive model for eMH preference. Demographic factors such as age did not demonstrate a relationship with eMH preference, nor did the persons self-reported level of anxiety or computer confidence. The study also found that a user’s perception and beliefs had a significant relationship on the selection and view of treatment modality. Participants who view eMH services as more helpful are more likely to indicate an intention to go online for support whereas F2F preferers are more likely to seek traditional services and perceive them as more helpful. To expose F2F preferers to eMH services it is suggested that promotional material and referrals to eMH services come from trusted sources of F2F preferers such as GP’s and Psychologists.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Coursework Masters) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Sonja March |
| Qualification: | Masters of Psychology (Clinical) |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Aug 2025 04:24 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Aug 2025 04:24 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | adult mental health ; barriers to mental health therapy ; online mental health interventions ; e mental health services ; eMH ; traditional mental health therapy |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52376 |
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