Acceptability of internet-based interventions for depression in Indonesia

Highlights

• Indonesians seem to be open to use internet-based interventions for depression.

• Personal innovativeness toward online services is the strongest usage predictor.

• Depression level is the second strongest usage predictor.

Abstract

Background

In Indonesia, internet-based interventions may represent a promising strategy to reduce the mental health gap given that the level of internet usage in the country continues to increase. To check the acceptability of internet-based interventions, this study investigates factors that contribute to the use of internet-based interventions for depression in Indonesia.

Method

The survey was conducted online and had 904 participants recruited from specific social networks on mental health and general social media (Mean age = 27.07, 50.22% females). The three dependent variables were (1) behavioral intention to start using internet-based interventions for depression, (2) preference to use it as a substitute for regular treatments and (3) preference to use it to complement regular treatments. The predictor variables included sociodemographic characteristics, perceived mental health conditions, personal situational characteristics, personal innovativeness toward online services, and depression level.

Results

A large majority reported to be open to using internet-based interventions for depression (73.7%), as well as to use it as a substitution (73.3%) or as a complementary (73%) to regular treatments. Personal innovativeness toward online services was the strongest significant predictor for all types of use, even when corrected for current depression level. When added to the analyses separately, depression level was the second strongest predictive factor for all dependent variables.

Conclusion

The majority of Indonesians showed openness to use internet-based interventions for depression. To increase the adoption of internet-based interventions for depression, it is important to first promote internet usage to more people across the country, especially for those who are currently depressed.