FACTORS INFLUENCING INTENTION TO USE AN ONLINE PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING FOR DISTINGUISHING MENTAL HEALTH OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN CHINA

Abstract

A web-based psychological counseling platform for Chinese students was developed for initial examination and attention to in-depth mental health issues. Factors influencing students' intentions to use the online psychological counseling platform are explored to enhance the platform use in the future. Structural equation model constructed by TAM was used to analyse the influencing factors of user intention and their configuration paths. The survey was conducted among college students in China through an online platform. The results of this study show that psychological needs and platform feature play an important role in shaping student perceptions of platform usefulness and ease of use. Students' perceptions of the platform's ease of use and usefulness also has a strong influence on the intention to use the platform. Factors influencing platform use affect the further development of online psychology counseling platforms. This will effectively meet the psychological needs of students in the future and result in increased use of the platform for the better mental health of students.

Keywords: psychological counseling; online platform; mental health; intention to use; college student