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Chen T, Ou J, Li G, Luo H. Promoting mental health in children and adolescents through digital technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1356554. [PMID: 38533221 PMCID: PMC10963393 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The 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. Methods To 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. Results The 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. Conclusion Based on these findings, this study provides guidance for future practice and research on the promotion of adolescent mental health through digital technology. Systematic review registration https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-12-0004/, doi: 10.37766/inplasy2023.12.0004.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Heng Luo
- Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
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Matheson EL, Smith HG, Amaral ACS, Meireles JFF, Almeida MC, Linardon J, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Diedrichs PC. Using Chatbot Technology to Improve Brazilian Adolescents' Body Image and Mental Health at Scale: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2023; 11:e39934. [PMID: 37335604 DOI: 10.2196/39934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accessible, cost-effective, and scalable mental health interventions are limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where disparities between mental health needs and services are greatest. Microinterventions (ie, brief, stand-alone, or digital approaches) aim to provide immediate reprieve and enhancements in mental health states and offer a novel and scalable framework for embedding evidence-based mental health promotion techniques into digital environments. Body image is a global public health issue that increases young peoples' risk of developing more severe mental and physical health issues. Embedding body image microinterventions into digital environments is one avenue for providing young people with immediate and short-term reprieve and protection from the negative exposure effects associated with social media. OBJECTIVE This 2-armed, fully remote, and preregistered randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of a body image chatbot containing microinterventions on Brazilian adolescents' state and trait body image and associated well-being outcomes. METHODS Geographically diverse Brazilian adolescents aged 13-18 years (901/1715, 52.54% girls) were randomized into the chatbot or an assessment-only control condition and completed web-based self-assessments at baseline, immediately after the intervention time frame, and at 1-week and 1-month follow-ups. The primary outcomes were mean change in state (at chatbot entry and at the completion of a microintervention technique) and trait body image (before and after the intervention), with the secondary outcomes being mean change in affect (state and trait) and body image self-efficacy between the assessment time points. RESULTS Most participants who entered the chatbot (258/327, 78.9%) completed ≥1 microintervention technique, with participants completing an average of 5 techniques over the 72-hour intervention period. Chatbot users experienced small significant improvements in primary (state: P<.001, Cohen d=0.30, 95% CI 0.25-0.34; and trait body image: P=.02, Cohen d range=0.10, 95% CI 0.01-0.18, to 0.26, 95% CI 0.13-0.32) and secondary outcomes across various time points (state: P<.001, Cohen d=0.28, 95% CI 0.22-0.33; trait positive affect: P=.02, Cohen d range=0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.27, to 0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.37; negative affect: P=.03, Cohen d range=-0.16, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.02, to -0.18, 95% CI -0.33 to -0.03; and self-efficacy: P=.02, Cohen d range=0.14, 95% CI 0.03-0.25, to 0.19, 95% CI 0.08-0.32) relative to the control condition. Intervention benefits were moderated by baseline levels of concerns but not by gender. CONCLUSIONS This is the first large-scale randomized controlled trial assessing a body image chatbot among Brazilian adolescents. Intervention attrition was high (531/858, 61.9%) and reflected the broader digital intervention literature; barriers to engagement were discussed. Meanwhile, the findings support the emerging literature that indicates microinterventions and chatbot technology are acceptable and effective web-based service provisions. This study also offers a blueprint for accessible, cost-effective, and scalable digital approaches that address disparities between health care needs and provisions in low- and middle-income countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04825184; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04825184. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s12889-021-12129-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Matheson
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Harriet G Smith
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ana C S Amaral
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeast of Minas Gerais, Barbacena, Brazil
| | - Juliana F F Meireles
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Community Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Tulsa, OK, United States
| | - Mireille C Almeida
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jake Linardon
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Phillippa C Diedrichs
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
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da Silva SU, Gonçalves VSS, Barufaldi LA, de Carvalho KMB. Weight misperception and substance use: Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1850. [PMID: 36192717 PMCID: PMC9531377 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14267-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescence is a crucial period for body image formation. Weight misperception is the discrepancy between individuals' body weight perception and their actual nutritional status. Both weight concerns and substance use are common among adolescents, and there is evidence of an associations between these two variables. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the association between weight misperception and substance use (smoking and alcohol) in a national sample of normal weight Brazilian adolescents. METHODS Data were obtained from the Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a cross-sectional, multicenter, national, school-based survey, carried out in 124 municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants from Brazil. The sample included adolescents aged 12-17 years, classified as normal weight by nutritional status evaluation. The following measures were collected: weight underestimation and overestimation (exposure); having tried cigarette smoking, current smoking, current alcohol consumption, binge drinking and current smoking and alcohol consumption(outcomes); macro-region, sex, type of school, and excessive screen time (confounders). The frequency of variables was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR). RESULTS In total, data from 53,447 adolescents were analyzed. Weight misperception was present in a third of the adolescents, with similar prevalence of weight underestimation and overestimation. In adolescents aged 12-14 years, weight underestimation and overestimation were associated with having tried cigarette smoking (PR: 1.18 and 1.43, respectively), current alcohol consumption (PR: 1.33 for both weight misperception categories), and binge drinking (PR: 1.96 and 2.01, respectively). Weight underestimation was associated with both having tried cigarette smoking and current alcohol consumption in boys (PR: 1.14 and 1.16, respectively) and girls (PR: 1.32 and 1.15, respectively). In girls, weight overestimation was associated with all substance use variables (PR between 1.19 and 1.41). CONCLUSIONS Our results showed an association between weight misperception and having tried cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and binge drinking in younger adolescents. In addition, weight overestimation was associated with all substance use indicators in girls. Based on our findings, interventions aimed to improve weight perception in normal weight adolescents may contribute to the reduction of substance use in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simoni Urbano da Silva
- Graduate Program of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
| | | | - Laura Augusta Barufaldi
- Population Research Division, Brazilian National Cancer Institute José Alencar Gomes da Silva, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Garbett KM, Haywood S, Craddock N, Gentili C, Nasution K, Saraswati LA, Medise BE, White P, Diedrichs PC, Williamson H. Evaluating the Efficacy of a Social Media-Based Intervention (Warna-Warni Waktu) to Improve Body Image Among Young Indonesian Women: Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint). J Med Internet Res 2022; 25:e42499. [PMID: 37010911 PMCID: PMC10131926 DOI: 10.2196/42499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Body dissatisfaction is a global issue, particularly among adolescent girls and young women. Effective body image interventions exist but face barriers to scaling up, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, such as Indonesia, where a need exists. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the acceptability and efficacy of Warna-Warni Waktu, a social media-based, fictional 6-episode video series with self-guided web-based activities for improving body image among young Indonesian adolescent girls and young women. We hypothesized that Warna-Warni Waktu would increase trait body satisfaction and mood and decrease internalization of appearance ideals and skin shade dissatisfaction relative to the waitlist control condition. We also anticipated improvements in state body satisfaction and mood immediately following each video. METHODS We conducted a web-based, 2-arm randomized controlled trial among 2000 adolescent girls and young women, aged 15 to 19 years, recruited via telephone by an Indonesian research agency. Block randomization (1:1 allocation) was performed. Participants and researchers were not concealed from the randomized arm. Participants completed self-report assessments of trait body satisfaction (primary outcome) and the internalization of appearance ideals, mood, and skin shade dissatisfaction at baseline (before randomization), time 2 (1 day after the intervention [T2]), and time 3 (1 month after the intervention [T3]). Participants also completed state body satisfaction and mood measures immediately before and after each video. Data were evaluated using linear mixed models with an intent-to-treat analysis. Intervention adherence was tracked. Acceptability data were collected. RESULTS There were 1847 participants. Relative to the control condition (n=923), the intervention group (n=924) showed reduced internalization of appearance ideals at T2 (F1,1758=40.56, P<.001, partial η2=0.022) and T3 (F1,1782=54.03, P<.001, partial η2=0.03) and reduced skin shade dissatisfaction at T2 (F1,1744=8.05, P=.005, partial η2=0.005). Trait body satisfaction improvements occurred in the intervention group at T3 (F1, 1781=9.02, P=.005, partial η2=0.005), which was completely mediated by the internalization change scores between baseline and T2 (indirect effect: β=.03, 95% CI 0.017-0.041; direct effect: β=.03, P=.13), consistent with the Tripartite Influence Model of body dissatisfaction. Trait mood showed no significant effects. Dependent sample t tests (2-tailed) found each video improved state body satisfaction and mood. Cumulative analyses found significant and progressive improvements in pre- and poststate body satisfaction and mood. Intervention adherence was good; participants watched an average of 5.2 (SD 1.66) videos. Acceptability scores were high for understandability, enjoyment, age appropriateness, usefulness, and likelihood to recommend. CONCLUSIONS Warna-Warni Waktu is an effective eHealth intervention to reduce body dissatisfaction among Indonesian adolescent girls and young women. Although the effects were small, Warna-Warni Waktu is a scalable, cost-effective alternative to more intense interventions. Initially, dissemination through paid social media advertising will reach thousands of young Indonesian women. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05383807, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05383807 ; ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN35483207, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN35483207. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/33596.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty M Garbett
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon Haywood
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Nadia Craddock
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Caterina Gentili
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - L Ayu Saraswati
- Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | | | - Paul White
- Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Phillippa C Diedrichs
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Heidi Williamson
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Shah J, DePietro B, D’Adamo L, Firebaugh ML, Laing O, Fowler LA, Smolar L, Sadeh-Sharvit S, Taylor CB, Wilfley DE, Fitzsimmons-Craft EE. Development and usability testing of a chatbot to promote mental health services use among individuals with eating disorders following screening. Int J Eat Disord 2022; 55:1229-1244. [PMID: 36056648 PMCID: PMC10053367 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A significant gap exists between those who need and those who receive care for eating disorders (EDs). Novel solutions are needed to encourage service use and address treatment barriers. This study developed and evaluated the usability of a chatbot designed for pairing with online ED screening. The tool aimed to promote mental health service utilization by improving motivation for treatment and self-efficacy among individuals with EDs. METHODS A chatbot prototype, Alex, was designed using decision trees and theoretically-informed components: psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, personalized recommendations, and repeated administration. Usability testing was conducted over four iterative cycles, with user feedback informing refinements to the next iteration. Post-testing, participants (N= 21) completed the System Usability Scale (SUS), the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use Questionnaire (USE), and a semi-structured interview. RESULTS Interview feedback detailed chatbot aspects participants enjoyed and aspects necessitating improvement. Feedback converged on four themes: user experience, chatbot qualities, chatbot content, and ease of use. Following refinements, users described Alex as humanlike, supportive, and encouraging. Content was perceived as novel and personally relevant. USE scores across domains were generally above average (~5 out of 7), and SUS scores indicated "good" to "excellent" usability across cycles, with the final iteration receiving the highest average score. DISCUSSION Overall, participants generally reflected positively on interactions with Alex, including the initial version. Refinements between cycles further improved user experiences. This study provides preliminary evidence of the feasibility and acceptance of a chatbot designed to promote motivation for and use of services among individuals with EDs. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE Low rates of service utilization and treatment have been observed among individuals following online eating disorder screening. Tools are needed, including scalable, digital options, that can be easily paired with screening, to improve motivation for addressing eating disorders and promote service utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Shah
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bianca DePietro
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Laura D’Adamo
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marie-Laure Firebaugh
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Olivia Laing
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lauren A. Fowler
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lauren Smolar
- National Eating Disorders Association, New York City, NY, USA
| | | | - C. Barr Taylor
- Center for m2Health, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Denise E. Wilfley
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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