Effective self-regulation change techniques to promote mental wellbeing among adolescents: a meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Mental wellbeing is influenced by self-regulation processes. However, little is known on the efficacy of change techniques based on self-regulation to promote mental wellbeing. The aim of this meta-analysis is to identify effective self-regulation techniques (SRTs) in primary and secondary prevention interventions on mental wellbeing in adolescents. Forty interventions were included in the analyses. Techniques were coded into nine categories of SRTs. Meta-analyses were conducted to identify the effectiveness of SRTs, examining three different outcomes: internalising behaviour, externalising behaviour, and self-esteem. Primary interventions had a small-to-medium ($\overline{g}$ = 0.16–0.29) on self-esteem and internalising behaviour. Secondary interventions had a medium-to-large short-term effect (average $\overline{g}$ = 0.56) on internalising behaviour and self-esteem. In secondary interventions, interventions including asking for social support $(\overline{g}=1.55,$ 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.11–1.98) had a great effect on internalising behaviour. Interventions including monitoring and evaluation had a greater effect on self-esteem $(\overline{g}=0.39,$ 95% CI = 0.21–0.57). For primary interventions, there was not a single SRT that was associated with a greater intervention effect on internalising behaviour or self-esteem. No effects were found for externalising behaviours. Self-regulation interventions are moderately effective at improving mental wellbeing among adolescents. Secondary interventions promoting ‘asking for social support’ and promoting ‘monitoring and evaluation’ were associated with improved outcomes. More research is needed to identify other SRTs or combinations of SRTs that could improve understanding or optimise mental wellbeing interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Meta-analysis
• mental health
• adolescents
• promotion
• evaluation
• intervention

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Lenneke van Genugten http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3777-7000

Elise Dusseldorp http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6305-4060

Emma K. Massey http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9017-1924

Pepijn van Empelen http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9809-7650

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the ZonMW (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development) [grant number 200210004].