Anonymity, Mutual Disclosure and Trust in Online Counselling Relationships among Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the influence of anonymity and mutual disclosure on trust in online counselling relationships in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised undergraduate and postgraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria.  Findings revealed that majority of the students showed moderate level of trust. It was also revealed that anonymity (β = 0.310, p < 0.05) and mutual disclosure (β= 0.627, p < 0.05) had positive and significant influence on counsellor-client trust. Also, sex significantly and inversely influenced counsellor-client trust (β= -1.683, p < 0.05), while the type of concerns presented by students had no significant relationship with counsellor-client trust (F= 2.313, p > 0.05).