Effectiveness of Social Inclusion Interventions for Anxiety and Depression among Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Xanthe Hunt (), Tom Shakespeare, Gabriele Vilyte, G. J. Melendez-Torres, Junita Henry, Melissa Bradshaw, Selvan Naidoo, Rachel Mbuyamba, Shahd Aljassem, Esta Suubi, Nawar Aljasem, Moroesi Makhetha and Jason Bantjes
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Xanthe Hunt: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Tom Shakespeare: International Centre for Evidence on Disability, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Gabriele Vilyte: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
G. J. Melendez-Torres: College of Medicine, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QJ, UK
Junita Henry: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Melissa Bradshaw: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Selvan Naidoo: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Rachel Mbuyamba: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Shahd Aljassem: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Esta Suubi: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Nawar Aljasem: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Moroesi Makhetha: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Jason Bantjes: Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Background: Adolescents who are socially excluded are at increased risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Promoting social inclusion could be an effective strategy for preventing and treating adolescent depression and anxiety. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of intervention studies which aimed to prevent or treat adolescent depression and/or anxiety by promoting social inclusion. Throughout the review we engaged a youth advisory group of 13 young people (aged 21–24) from Uganda, Turkey, Syria, South Africa, and Egypt. Results: We identified 12 studies relevant to our review. The interventions tested use a range of different strategies to increase social inclusion and reduce depression and anxiety, including social skills training, psychoeducation, teaching life skills training, and cash transfers. Pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs) based on random-effects models showed medium-to-large benefits of interventions on improving depression and anxiety symptoms (n = 8; SMD = −0.62; 95% CI, −1.23 to −0.01, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although there are not many studies, those which have been done show promising results that strongly suggest that social inclusion could be an important component of programmes to promote adolescent mental health.

Keywords: social inclusion; active ingredients; systematic review; mental health; lived experience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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