Can you tell me more about that? An examination of self-disclosure in videoconference and face-to-face psychological interviewing

Objectives

Videoconference psychotherapy (VCP) is a crucial component of many health care systems, allowing for remote delivery of services. However, little is known about the mechanisms of change within VCP. Previous research has suggested that self-disclosure may be greater in VCP than face-to-face modalities and was investigated in the current study.

Design

Young adults aged 18–25 years (N = 57) were randomly allocated to face-to-face or VCP interview conditions, with measures completed pre- and post-interview.

Methods

Participants completed an autobiographical memory task, requiring them to describe specific memories in response to positive and negative valence cue words. Measures included self-reported self-disclosure, blind observer-rated self-disclosure, memory specificity, and mean number of words per response.

Results

No significant differences were found between conditions with regard to self-reported self-disclosure, capacity to recall specific memories, or words uttered per response. However, observer-rated depth of self-disclosure was significantly higher for participants in the face-to-face than VCP condition. Self-disclosure and memory specificity were also significantly greater for negative than positive valence cue words, regardless of condition.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that whilst participants may be able to draw on memories with equal ease regardless of interview modality, in VCP, emotional processing of these memories may require increased support and guidance from the therapist.