Reliability and Validity of Digital Counselling Services Questionnaire in Chinese Undergraduates From Public Universities

Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, the study developed a 14-item questionnaire of digital counselling services to examine the factors affecting digital counselling services usage among Chinese undergraduates, aiming to provide guidance for universities and mental health departments. A total of 1,661 valid questionnaires were collected from Chinese undergraduates in public universities. The participants consisted of 819 females (49.308%) and 842 males (50.692%). After exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, the questionnaire had good reliability and validity. Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and privacy are 4 dimensions of the digital counselling services questionnaire. The results revealed that the questionnaire provides a reliable instrument to assess digital counselling services usage among Chinese undergraduates. This validated instrument provides universities with a targeted tool to assess and improve the uptake of digital counselling services. Universities can use this tool to increase students' engagement with digital counselling and enhance their well-being.