Factors influencing attitudes toward cyber-counseling among China's Generation Z: A structural equation model

Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2022 Oct:40:124-131. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2022.07.011. Epub 2022 Jul 6.

Abstract

Information technology developments have combined traditional face-to-face counseling with online- or cyber-counseling. As digital natives, Generation Z has easy access to cyber-counseling. However, their attitudes toward cyber-counseling remain unknown. This study explored these attitudes and relevant influencing factors among 1216 Chinese adolescents using self-report questionnaires. Descriptive analyses and structural equation modeling were used for data analysis. The model explained 27.7 % of the total variance, attitudes toward psychological help was the most influential, followed by attitudes toward the Internet and perceived behavioral control. The model was effective in explaining attitudes toward cyber-counseling, emphasizing the influence of attitudes toward psychological help.

Keywords: Attitude; Chinese adolescents; Generation Z; Psychological cyber-counseling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attitude*
  • China
  • Counseling*
  • Humans
  • Surveys and Questionnaires