Cisgender Sexual Minority Women's Interest in Telemental Health Services: A Latent Class Analysis

Introduction: Telemental health is increasingly recognized for its potential to overcome barriers like cost and stigma, particularly for marginalized groups. Sexual minority women in particular may benefit from increased access to telemental health services, due to the unique health disparities faced by this population. However, very little research thus far has assessed the telemental health preferences of this group. Methods: The present study surveyed 1,092 cisgender sexual minority women regarding their demographic information, mental health, and telemental health preferences, using the Prolific.co research platform. Latent class analysis was conducted to identify subgroups within the sample based on their responses to the survey. Results: Results revealed diverse attitudes toward telemental health, with some that prefer in-person sessions, whereas others show a strong interest in virtual options. Latent class analysis identified five groups, termed the Neutral, Ambivalent, Inclined, Inclined Related to Travel, and Averse groups. There were statistically significant differences between groups on measures of rurality, socioeconomic status, previous therapy experience, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Overall, sexual minority women demonstrated interest in telemental health, especially individuals with mobility challenges and those living in rural areas. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of tailoring mental health services to diverse needs and suggests that telemental health could be a valuable tool in addressing health disparities among sexual minority women. Importantly, these data were conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research could examine how sexual minority women's attitudes toward telemental health have shifted since the COVID-19 pandemic and how telemental health services could be tailored for marginalized subgroups.