Postsecondary Student Perceptions and Preferences for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: Comparison of Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Face-to-Face Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Medication

Postsecondary students experience elevated rates of anxiety and depression but also experience barriers to treatment, such as limited time, privacy concerns, and lack of emotional openness. Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) is an efficacious treatment that addresses barriers to care in adult populations, with some evidence showing ICBT is also effective with students. Gaining a greater understanding of student attitudes toward ICBT could prove beneficial to ICBT implementation efforts. 'Ibis study thus aimed to explore postsecondary students' perceptions of and preferences for ICBT compared to face-to-face cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) or medication. A sample of Canadian postsecondary students were recruited (N = 314) to complete an online survey. Most students preferred face-to-face CBT (44.6%), followed by medication (31.9%) and ICBT (23.5%); however, all 3 treatments were rated as similarly acceptable and credible. Of note, when students considered potential waiting periods, a greater percentage of students opted for ICBT over waiting for face-to-face services. Less severe depression symptoms and female gender were predictors of higher ratings of ICBT acceptability. Students who had greater intentions to seek mental health services or were graduate students viewed ICBT as more credible than those who had lower intentions. Students perceived ICBT as convenient and accessible but also as potentially impersonal, lacking accountability, and more time-consuming. Students varied in amount of therapist support they desired to accompany ICBT, with most preferring once-a-week (35%) or twice-a-week support (23%). Implications for future implementation efforts of ICBT for postsecondary students are discussed.