Identity Threat as a Barrier to NHS Psychology Professionals’ Adoption of Generative AI: A Technology Acceptance Model Study

Introduction. The development and adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies is rapidly expanding, but its integration into psychological services depends on clinician acceptance. Little empirical work has examined how identity-related threat shapes psychology professionals’ adoption intentions of GenAI. The present research tested an extended technology acceptance model (TAM), with the addition of personal and professional identity threats, to explain psychology professionals’ adoption intentions of GenAI technologies for clinically relevant usage. Methods. A total of 201 UK psychology professionals completed a cross-sectional online survey. Three sequential structural equation models were tested, incorporating perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and social influence as core predictors, with threats to professional capabilities and self-threat added as extensions. Two open-ended qualitative questions were analysed using content analysis to provide broader contextual insight into current use and barriers to adoption. Results. All models demonstrated acceptable fit (CFI = 0.936–0.938; RMSEA = 0.071–0.072). Perceived usefulness emerged as the strongest correlate of adoption intention across all models (β = 0.67–0.69). Threats to professional capabilities and self-threat were each reliably negatively associated with adoption intention when entered separately, above and beyond core TAM predictors (β = −0.20 and β = −0.16 respectively). Social influence exerted a reliable indirect effect on behavioural intention through perceived usefulness across all models, as did perceived ease of use in the two models incorporating identity threat. Content analysis identified ethical concerns, lack of trust, and professional identity threats as prominent barriers to adoption. Discussion. Findings highlight the importance of considering both classic TAM factors and identity-related concerns when developing GenAI and implementing such technology into psychological services.