An explanatory sequential analysis of Irish young-old and old-old older adults’ attitudes towards face-to-face and online psychotherapy

McCrum, Siofra and McGourty, Jemma and Moran, Orla (2025) An explanatory sequential analysis of Irish young-old and old-old older adults’ attitudes towards face-to-face and online psychotherapy. Masters thesis, Dundalk Institute of Technology.

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Abstract

Online psychotherapy is a growing research area, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is little known about the attitudes of older adults towards online psychotherapy via synchronous video call. This research aimed to measure young-old and old-old older adults’ attitudes towards face-to-face (f2f) and online psychotherapy and identify predictors of these attitudes via an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design utlising quantitative surveys and qualitative semi-structured interviews. 156 young-old and old-old older adults aged 50+ (109 female, one non-binary, M=62.12 years, SD=8.29) completed a quantitative questionnaire consisting of four pre-existing, validated scales: Senior Technology Acceptance Model Questionnaire; Barriers to Mental Health Services Scale-Revised; Face-to-face Counselling Attitudes Scale and Online Counselling Attitudes Scale. Participants had higher mean scores on value of f2f than online psychotherapy, and on discomfort with online than f2f. Positive correlations were found between value of f2f and online psychotherapy, and between discomfort with f2f and online psychotherapy. Regression analyses found that more positive attitudes towards f2f psychotherapy and prior experience with online psychotherapy were significant positive predictors of attitudes towards online psychotherapy. Further regression analysis found that experience with f2f psychotherapy was a significant positive predictor of attitudes towards f2f psychotherapy, whilst negative help-seeking beliefs and lack of knowledge and fear of psychotherapy were significant negative predictors of attitudes towards f2f psychotherapy. Five young-old and old-old older adults (three male, M=76.8 years, SD=6.27) participated in semi-structured interviews. Using thematic analysis, three main themes were identified: Perceptions of online psychotherapy, facilitators of engagement with online psychotherapy, and barriers to engagement of online psychotherapy. These results indicate that improving attitudes towards f2f psychotherapy, increasing awareness and decreasing fear of psychotherapy could improve attitudes towards online and f2f psychotherapy. Recommendations include incorporating initial f2f appointments before moving online and promoting psychotherapy through service user testimonies.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	Psychology
Research Centres:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Orla Moran
Date Deposited:	26 Sep 2025 12:17
Last Modified:	26 Sep 2025 12:17
License:	Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0
URI:	https://eprints.dkit.ie/id/eprint/942

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