Personality lens on telehealth receptiveness: exploring effects of extraversion, openness to experience, and neuroticism, with self-esteem as a moderator

• Main Author: Tan, Heng Hong
• Other Authors: Ring Joyce Pang Shu Min
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Social Sciences; Extraversion; Openness to experience; Neuroticism; Self-esteem; Telehealth; Receptiveness; Personality traits; Singapore
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/175427
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

As Singapore moves towards telehealth, it is important to understand people’s perception towards it. This present study aimed to explore how personality traits of extraversion, openness to experience, and neuroticism are associated to one’s receptiveness towards telehealth, as well as the role of self-esteem as a moderator in these relationships. Utilising a nationally representative sample (by citizenship, gender, age, and race) of 527 participants, descriptive statistics showed that participants generally understand what telehealth is but most of them have not used this service before. Additionally, findings showed that higher levels of extraversion and openness to experience were associated with higher receptiveness to telehealth. In contrast, higher levels of neuroticism were associated with lower receptiveness to telehealth. Findings revealed that only openness to experience predicted receptiveness towards telehealth, while neuroticism and extraversion did not. Furthermore, self-esteem was not a significant moderator for all relationships. Finally, prior experience with telehealth predicted higher receptiveness towards telehealth. Besides extending our understanding of telehealth, findings in this study can inform healthcare strategies on ways to increase the public’s receptiveness towards telehealth.