Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of mental health issues among children and adolescents has prompted a growing number of researchers and practitioners to explore digital technology interventions, which offer convenience, diversity, and proven effectiveness in addressing such problems. However, th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356554/full |
| _version_ | 1797265568765575168 |
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| author | Tianjiao Chen Jingyi Ou Gege Li Heng Luo |
| author_facet | Tianjiao Chen Jingyi Ou Gege Li Heng Luo |
| author_sort | Tianjiao Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of mental health issues among children and adolescents has prompted a growing number of researchers and practitioners to explore digital technology interventions, which offer convenience, diversity, and proven effectiveness in addressing such problems. However, the existing literature reveals a significant gap in comprehensive reviews that consolidate findings and discuss the potential of digital technologies in enhancing mental health.MethodsTo clarify the latest research progress on digital technology to promote mental health in the past decade (2013–2023), we conducted two studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The systematic review is based on 59 empirical studies identified from three screening phases, with basic information, types of technologies, types of mental health issues as key points of analysis for synthesis and comparison. The meta-analysis is conducted with 10 qualified experimental studies to determine the overall effect size of digital technology interventions and possible moderating factors.ResultsThe results revealed that (1) there is an upward trend in relevant research, comprising mostly experimental and quasi-experimental designs; (2) the common mental health issues include depression, anxiety, bullying, lack of social emotional competence, and mental issues related to COVID-19; (3) among the various technological interventions, mobile applications (apps) have been used most frequently in the diagnosis and treatment of mental issues, followed by virtual reality, serious games, and telemedicine services; and (4) the meta-analysis results indicated that digital technology interventions have a moderate and significant effect size (g = 0.43) for promoting mental health.ConclusionBased on these findings, this study provides guidance for future practice and research on the promotion of adolescent mental health through digital technology.Systematic review registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-12-0004/, doi: 10.37766/inplasy2023.12.0004. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:46:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e2136dff67034d85a6d7f5061dd25e6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:46:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e2136dff67034d85a6d7f5061dd25e6f2024-03-12T04:44:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-03-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.13565541356554Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysisTianjiao ChenJingyi OuGege LiHeng LuoBackgroundThe increasing prevalence of mental health issues among children and adolescents has prompted a growing number of researchers and practitioners to explore digital technology interventions, which offer convenience, diversity, and proven effectiveness in addressing such problems. However, the existing literature reveals a significant gap in comprehensive reviews that consolidate findings and discuss the potential of digital technologies in enhancing mental health.MethodsTo clarify the latest research progress on digital technology to promote mental health in the past decade (2013–2023), we conducted two studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The systematic review is based on 59 empirical studies identified from three screening phases, with basic information, types of technologies, types of mental health issues as key points of analysis for synthesis and comparison. The meta-analysis is conducted with 10 qualified experimental studies to determine the overall effect size of digital technology interventions and possible moderating factors.ResultsThe results revealed that (1) there is an upward trend in relevant research, comprising mostly experimental and quasi-experimental designs; (2) the common mental health issues include depression, anxiety, bullying, lack of social emotional competence, and mental issues related to COVID-19; (3) among the various technological interventions, mobile applications (apps) have been used most frequently in the diagnosis and treatment of mental issues, followed by virtual reality, serious games, and telemedicine services; and (4) the meta-analysis results indicated that digital technology interventions have a moderate and significant effect size (g = 0.43) for promoting mental health.ConclusionBased on these findings, this study provides guidance for future practice and research on the promotion of adolescent mental health through digital technology.Systematic review registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-12-0004/, doi: 10.37766/inplasy2023.12.0004.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356554/fullchildren and adolescentsdigital technologysystematic literature reviewmeta-analysismental health issues |
| spellingShingle | Tianjiao Chen Jingyi Ou Gege Li Heng Luo Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychology children and adolescents digital technology systematic literature review meta-analysis mental health issues |
| title | Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | children and adolescents digital technology systematic literature review meta-analysis mental health issues |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356554/full |
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