Evaluated interventions addressing developmental transitions for youth with mental health disorders: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this meta-analysis was to provide a quantitative synthesis of the effects of studies evaluating developmentally appropriate programs or interventions for transition-age youth with mental health disorders.

Methods

Studies, between January 1992 and March 2021, were included if they contained a sample population with a median age between 12 and 25 years and with a mental health disorder and described the results of health interventions addressing aspects of developmental transitions. Independent reviewers screened study texts and assessed the risk of bias. Random effects meta-analysis was used to pool data on standardized mean differences.

Results

Under neurodevelopmental studies (6), the effect size of interventions measuring social outcomes was 1.00 (95% CI: −0.01 to 2.00), parental stress levels was −0.10 (95% CI:−0.74 to 0.55), autism symptoms was −0.40 (95% CI: −1.58 to 0.78), and self-determination was 0.16 (95% CI:−0.38 to 0.70). Under mental illness studies (3), the effect size of interventions measuring adolescent depressive symptoms was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.96) and parental depressive symptoms was 1.09 (95% CI: 0.20 to 1.97).

Conclusions

There is no effect of interventions except on parental depressive symptoms under mental illness studies. Further research with comparable outcomes and assessments is needed.

Implications for rehabilitation:

• Interventions for youth with mental health disorders should be developmentally appropriate and incorporate elements to assist youth in multiple aspects of their lives.

• The following approaches should be considered in interventions: skills training, prevocational/vocational guidance, a client-centered approach, and/or an ecological/experiential approach.

• Intervention researchers and practitioners should incorporate similar outcome assessment tools and measures in order to allow for valid comparisons between intervention effectiveness.

Keywords:

• Meta-analysis
• developmental transitions
• youth
• emerging adulthood
• mental health disorder

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Pallavi Dutta, Andrew Canete, and members of the INCH lab for help with assistance in the screening process.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

MYK is supported by an Early Researchers Award by the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science.