Exploring Web Design Elements of Mental Health Service Websites, Quality of Online Health Information, and Inclusion of LGBTIQ+ Young Adults

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dc.contributor.authorEtienne, Rebecca
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Psychology
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionThis item is only available electronically.en
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: LGBTIQ+ young adults have reported experiencing higher levels of mental health challenges, psychological distress, stigma, and discrimination as compared to the general population. LGBTIQ+ young adults are increasing their time spent online to receive support and access information relating to their own experiences of mental health and wellbeing. Minimal research in Australia has been conducted on the mental health service websites available, and whether these websites provide mental health information to this community. Accordingly, this study explored whether mental health service websites based in Australia feature information for LGBTIQ+ young adults; and, if this was the case, what are the web design elements of this information. Method: Mental health service websites were sourced via generic web-search on Google using a string of search terms connected with Boolean operators. Websites were then analysed using content analysis guided by a modified framework outlining best practice web design elements. Results: The final dataset comprised a total of 15 mental health service websites. 10 of the websites offered mental health information specific to LGBTIQ+ young adults, and these were analysed in detail using the framework. However, none of the websites possessed all the best practice web design elements suggested by the literature. To increase user engagement and mitigate the effects of perceived (felt) stigma, these findings can help expand on what inclusive and affirmative healthcare can look like for the LGBTIQ+ community. Keywords: LGBTIQ, young adults, mental health service websites, online health information.en
dc.description.dissertationThesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2023
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/141067
dc.provenanceThis electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the author of this thesis and do not wish it to be made publicly available, or you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals
dc.subjectHonours; Psychologyen
dc.titleExploring Web Design Elements of Mental Health Service Websites, Quality of Online Health Information, and Inclusion of LGBTIQ+ Young Adultsen
dc.typeThesisen

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