A Qualitative Understanding of Attrition Rates and Barriers to Participation in Mental Health Resource Research

Abstract

The requirement for accessibility and uptake of mental health resources by families in need is necessary, and a clear understanding of what motivates families to enter and complete research that provides mental health resources is essential. Uptake of available mental health resources is often faced with high rates of attrition without clear reasons behind drop-out. The main purpose of the current study was to attain an understanding of participant attrition from a longitudinal mental health study that provided families with matched eMental health resources. Qualitative methodologies were used to attain an understanding of participant experiences surrounding their participation. All participants (n=292) from an existing longitudinal study on mental health (The Matching Study) that provided matched eMental health resources were invited to the current study; 49 participants completed a Zoom interview. Data was analyzed using interpretive description analysis. I generated four themes: a) identified factors driving study enrollment, b) challenges that impact participation in research, c) parent perceptions and experiences with AI and virtual research and d) influential factors behind continued participation in mental health research. Specific factors related to the individual and the study (i.e., methods) were highlighted by participants that influenced their enrolment and participatory behaviours. My findings suggest there may be unique factors that influence participation in research, as participant-identified factors do not entirely align with existing conceptualizations of barriers to clinical treatment engagement, like the Barriers to Treatment Model. However, the framework of a current model that conceptualizes attrition from research, the Ecological Theory of Attrition, may be applicable following a re-organization of the included categories and nested nature of the model to better represent participation in mental health research. Future studies should further extend and replicate my findings, such as to include additional diverse populations and specific mental health conditions, in order to develop a model of motivation behind mental health research participation. Finally, results may inform the development of procedures and methods in subsequent mental health research studies inclusive of those that provide eMental health resources and those that do not.