Exploring User-Related Drivers of the Early Acceptance of Certified Digital Stress Prevention Programs in Germany

Jennifer Apolinário-Hagen; Severin Hennemann; Christina Kück; Alexandra Wodner; Dorota Geibel; Marlies Riebschläger; Martin Zeißler; Bernhard Breil

doi:10.1177/1178632920911061

Exploring User-Related Drivers of the Early Acceptance of Certified Digital Stress Prevention Programs in Germany

Health Serv Insights. 2020 Mar 13:13:1178632920911061. doi: 10.1177/1178632920911061. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Jennifer Apolinário-Hagen¹, Severin Hennemann², Christina Kück³, Alexandra Wodner³, Dorota Geibel³, Marlies Riebschläger³, Martin Zeißler³, Bernhard Breil⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
² Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Experimental Psychopathology, Institute of Psychology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
³ Faculty of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany.
⁴ Faculty of Health Care, Hochschule Niederrhein, University of Applied Sciences, Krefeld, Germany.

Abstract

Electronic mental health services represent innovative instruments to increase the dissemination of stress programs in primary prevention. However, little is known about facilitators of their uptake. This study aimed to explore determinants of the acceptance of centrally certified digital stress coping programs and preferences for service delivery modes among adult members of German statutory health insurances. Participants completed a multi-construct 45-item questionnaire covering acceptance of digital stress prevention (behavioral use intention) and potential predictors we assessed using hierarchical regression analysis-(1) socio-demographic variables and time spent online, (2) openness to experience, (3) perceived stress, and (4) attitudes toward e-mental health. Preferences in terms of the willingness to use online, face-to-face and blended programs were analyzed using paired t-tests. Participants (N = 171, 66% female, 18-69 years) reported a moderate acceptance of digital stress management (M = 2.76, SD = 1.16, range: 1-5). We identified younger age (ß = -0.16, P = .009), openness to experience (ß = 0.17, P = .003), and positive attitudes (ß = 0.61, P < .001) as predictors of acceptance (R ² = .50, P < .001). Face-to-face was preferred over online (d = 0.40) and blended (d = 0.33), and blended over stand-alone online delivery mode (d = 0.19; all P < .001). Our findings indicate that promoting favorable attitudes toward digital stress prevention through tailored information may be a starting point to facilitate their adoption.

Keywords: Mental health; acceptability of health care; attitude to computers; eHealth; mHealth; preventive health services; psychological stress; public health.