The mediating role of mental health treatment engagement on sociodemographic factors and treatment outcomes: A cross-sectional study using secondary real-world data in Lebanon

Abstract

Sociodemographic factors impact individuals’ engagement in psychotherapy services. Engagement in turn influences treatment outcomes of psychotherapy. Research has previously defined engagement in therapy as being related to attending sessions or duration of treatment and has explored predictors of dropout. To our knowledge, no study has combined all these definitions to encompass a broader definition of engagement in psychotherapy. Previous research has also examined a variety of factors that influence engagement in psychotherapy such as demographic factors, education, employment, and therapist effects. This study derived its data from International Medical Corps (IMC), an NGO which provides free mental health services across primary health care centers (PHCCs) across Lebanon. In this secondary analysis, data on age, sex, marital status, nationality, and disability was explored. This cross-sectional study also explored engagement in psychotherapy as a mediator between sociodemographic factors and treatment success using PROCESS Macro Model 4. Results showed that sociodemographic factors predicted better engagement differently, and only marital status, disability, and nationality predicted treatment outcomes. Engagement partially predicted treatment outcomes and mediated the relationship between age, nationality, and disability with treatment outcomes. Further research is needed for more conclusive findings.