Determinants of the intention to seek psychotherapeutic consultation at work - a cross- sectional study in Germany

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPsychotherapeutic consultation at work (PT-A) provides employees with mental illnesses or subclinical symptoms a short-term and low-threshold access to psychotherapeutic care. However, practical experience shows that utilization falls short of expected demand. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of utilisation by exploring associations between sociodemographic characteristics, psychological well-being, stigma-related barriers and psychosocial safety climate and the intention to seek PT-A.MethodsWithin a cross-sectional study, 688 participants were recruited via various social media channels in Germany. Participants answered an online questionnaire on potential determinants and intention to seek PT-A 1) in general, for 2) occupational burden and 3) private burden. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for the whole study sample and for the subgroup of participants with current depression.ResultsLower psychological well-being, female gender and lower stigma-related barriers were positively associated with the general intention to seek PT-A. For occupational burden, only diverse gender was associated with lower intention to seek PT-A. For private burden, a lower psychological well-being and lower stigma-related barriers were associated with higher intention to seek PT-A. In the subgroup of participants with current depression, being female and lower stigma-related barriers were positively associated with general intention to seek PT-A. For occupational burden, only being female was positively associated with intention to seek PT-A. Tertiary education was the only significant predictor for intention to seek PT-A for private burden.ConclusionThose results give an overview on potential determinants for the intention to seek PT-A, but future research with longitudinal designs is needed to confirm that those factors also determine actual utilisation of PT-A. Based on the results, practical implications might include antistigma campaigns and promotion of psychotherapeutic consultation at work, adapted to specific target groups and the aims of the consultation.