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The paradox of choice: user preferences and completion rates in single-session vs. multi-session digital mental health interventions.

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Title: The paradox of choice: user preferences and completion rates in single-session vs. multi-session digital mental health interventions.
Authors: Bowers, Emily M. (AUTHOR), Klimczak, Korena S. (AUTHOR), Aller, Ty B. (AUTHOR), Levin, Michael E. (AUTHOR)
Source: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. May2026, Vol. 55 Issue 3, p466-476. 11p.
Subjects: Patient compliance, Consumer preferences, Psychotherapy, Mental health, College students
Abstract: Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) offer scalable solutions for addressing mental health needs, but low adherence remains a significant challenge. Single session DMHIs may offer a feasible alternative to address this issue, providing an accessible and low-effort option for users. The present study examines whether adding the choice of a single session DMHI in addition to a multi-session DMHI provides a feasible alternative for users who might otherwise disengage. This study examined naturalistic data from 509 university students who registered for a 12-session DMHI, single session DMHI, or both. The majority (58%) chose only the multi-session DMHI, while 24.2% chose only the single-session option, and 17.5% registered for both. Rates of completing one session of the chosen DMHI were highest for the single session DMHI (56.1%), with the lowest rates among those who registered for both programs. Users who chose the single session DMHI reported lower motivation and less frequent intentions to address mental health. Satisfaction with the single-session program was high. These results highlight the promise of single-session DMHIs as a feasible and acceptable intervention to help navigate adherence challenges with longer programs, while raising questions about the effectiveness of having users choose between single-session and multi-session DMHIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The paradox of choice: user preferences and completion rates in single-session vs. multi-session digital mental health interventions.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bowers%2C+Emily+M%2E%22">Bowers, Emily M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Klimczak%2C+Korena+S%2E%22">Klimczak, Korena S.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aller%2C+Ty+B%2E%22">Aller, Ty B.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Levin%2C+Michael+E%2E%22">Levin, Michael E.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Cognitive+Behaviour+Therapy%22">Cognitive Behaviour Therapy</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 55 Issue 3, p466-476. 11p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+compliance%22">Patient compliance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Consumer+preferences%22">Consumer preferences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychotherapy%22">Psychotherapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+students%22">College students</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) offer scalable solutions for addressing mental health needs, but low adherence remains a significant challenge. Single session DMHIs may offer a feasible alternative to address this issue, providing an accessible and low-effort option for users. The present study examines whether adding the choice of a single session DMHI in addition to a multi-session DMHI provides a feasible alternative for users who might otherwise disengage. This study examined naturalistic data from 509 university students who registered for a 12-session DMHI, single session DMHI, or both. The majority (58%) chose only the multi-session DMHI, while 24.2% chose only the single-session option, and 17.5% registered for both. Rates of completing one session of the chosen DMHI were highest for the single session DMHI (56.1%), with the lowest rates among those who registered for both programs. Users who chose the single session DMHI reported lower motivation and less frequent intentions to address mental health. Satisfaction with the single-session program was high. These results highlight the promise of single-session DMHIs as a feasible and acceptable intervention to help navigate adherence challenges with longer programs, while raising questions about the effectiveness of having users choose between single-session and multi-session DMHIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1080/16506073.2025.2512971
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Consumer preferences
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      – SubjectFull: Psychotherapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
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      – SubjectFull: College students
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      – TitleFull: The paradox of choice: user preferences and completion rates in single-session vs. multi-session digital mental health interventions.
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
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              Y: 2026
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