Attachment Style and Treatment Seeking Behavior in the Telemental Health Context

Abstract

Telemental health modalities have been increasingly adopted over the past several years, creating more choices for treatment seekers pursuing psychotherapy. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine how attachment style impacts treatment-seeking behavior in the context of telemental health services such as videoconferencing, phone, and messaging psychotherapy. A total of 24 psychotherapy clients and 195 university students were recruited to participate in a survey of their attitudes about telemental health. The results include that the best predictor of telehealth participation is previous telehealth experience, along with preliminary evidence that attachment anxiety increases willingness to engage in treatment across telemental health modalities. Qualitative analysis reveals that individuals consider individual differences, accessibility, technology, sensation and perception, time, environment, treatment efficacy, relationship factors, individual factors, communication, and ease when evaluating psychotherapy modalities.