The knowledge, attitude, and intention to use internet-based mental health services: A serial mediation model

Objective

Internet-based mental health services (i-MHS) have been widely provided to the public during the pandemic. However, people's engagement with i-MHS remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the Chinese population's knowledge, attitudes, and use intentions regarding i-MHS and determine their relations by serial mediation models.

Methods

The public's knowledge, attitudes, intention to use i-MHS and psychological impact of the pandemic were assessed. An online survey was administered to respondents from mainland China (N = 2543).

Results

Of the participants, 53.9 % exhibited some familiarity with i-MHS, while 62.4 % perceived these services as somewhat or very helpful, and 53.2 % were willing or very willing to use them. Serial mediation analyses indicated that the psychological impact of the pandemic indirectly related to the intention to use i-MHS. Knowledge and attitudes toward i-MHS sequentially mediated this relation [χ²(61) = 179.359, P < .001; χ²/df = 2.940; CFI = 0.996; RMSEA = 0.028].

Conclusions

This study underscores the critical role of knowledge in shaping positive attitudes and intentions to use i-MHS, emphasizing the need for robust mental healthcare promotion strategies to raise knowledge and maximize the benefits of i-MHS.