Young Adults and Telemental Health: What Influences Their Attitudes?

In today’s digital age, telemental health services are becoming a more accessible option for mental health care, particularly for young adults. But what factors shape their attitudes toward using these services? My research sought to answer this question by examining how various personal and environmental factors influence young adults' willingness to engage with telemental health services. The findings provide critical insights that can inform mental health professionals, policymakers, and educators in their efforts to improve access to and perceptions of remote mental health care.

Key Findings: What Predicts Attitudes Toward Telemental Health?

This study aimed to determine whether factors such as gender, residential location, stigma, help-seeking behaviors, and perceptions of mental health services could predict young adults' attitudes toward telemental health. When analyzing all variables together, the model explained 26.5% of the variance in attitudes toward telemental health, confirming that these factors do play a role in shaping perspectives on mental health services.

However, when examining individual predictors, only two stood out as significant influences on attitudes toward telemental health services:

1. Concerns About Psychotherapist Qualifications (CPQ) – Young adults who expressed concerns about the qualifications and expertise of mental health professionals were less likely to have positive attitudes toward telemental health services. This suggests that trust in providers plays a crucial role in whether young adults feel comfortable seeking mental health care remotely.

2. Belief That Depressive Symptoms Are Normal (BDSN) – Those who believed that depressive symptoms are a normal part of life were also less likely to view telemental health services favorably. This aligns with previous research showing that when individuals normalize distressing emotions, they may be less inclined to seek professional help (Corrigan & Rao, 2012).

Together, these two factors accounted for 23.1% of the variance in attitudes toward telemental health, reinforcing their significance in shaping young adults’ views.

A Surprising Finding: No Gender Differences

While previous studies have consistently found gender differences in mental health help-seeking—showing that women are more likely to seek help than men (Haavik et al., 2019; Dupont-Reyes et al., 2020)—this study found no significant difference between males and females in their attitudes toward telemental health services.

One possible explanation is that telemental health, by offering privacy and flexibility, may reduce traditional gender-based barriers that often prevent men from seeking help (Yu et al., 2023). Additionally, as stigma surrounding mental health declines and awareness campaigns promote help-seeking across genders, attitudes toward mental health care may be becoming more uniform among young adults (Zhang et al., 2024).

The Role of Social and Environmental Influences

Bandura’s social cognitive theory (2001) suggests that attitudes and behaviors are shaped by personal, environmental, and behavioral factors in a process called reciprocal determinism. The findings of this study support this framework by demonstrating that both personal beliefs (such as concerns about qualifications and perceptions of depression) and environmental factors (such as access to online services) influence attitudes toward telemental health.

Moreover, social media exposure may be playing a role in reducing stigma around mental health care. Research by Zhang et al. (2024) found that public mental health disclosures on social media often lower stigma, which could help explain why gender differences were not observed in this study. Similarly, Pescosolido et al. (2021) found that mental health stigma has declined over time for conditions like depression, which could contribute to increasing acceptance of telemental health services.

What Does This Mean for Mental Health Professionals?

The results of this study have important implications for mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers:

• Building Trust in Providers – Mental health professionals offering telemental health services should emphasize their qualifications, training, and expertise to alleviate concerns and build credibility. Transparency about credentials and providing introductory sessions to establish trust may help address this barrier.

• Reframing Mental Health Norms – Given that normalizing depressive symptoms was a barrier to positive attitudes, public health campaigns and educational initiatives should focus on distinguishing temporary distress from conditions that require intervention. Teaching young adults that professional help is a valid and effective option could encourage more proactive help-seeking.

• Leveraging Social Media – Since social media has been shown to reduce stigma, mental health organizations can harness these platforms to share positive narratives about therapy and telemental health, further promoting its acceptance.

• Expanding Access – While this study did not focus on infrastructure barriers, prior research highlights that rural areas often lack stable internet access (Summers-Gabr, 2020). Policymakers should prioritize expanding digital access to ensure that all young adults have equal opportunities to engage with telemental health services.

Final Thoughts

This study contributes to the growing understanding of what shapes young adults’ attitudes toward telemental health services. While concerns about provider qualifications and normalizing depressive symptoms remain barriers, gender differences were not a significant factor—suggesting that telemental health may be uniquely positioned to bridge traditional gaps in mental health care.

By addressing misconceptions about provider credibility, reshaping attitudes about mental health symptoms, and leveraging social media for stigma reduction, professionals can continue to expand the reach and effectiveness of telemental health services for the next generation.