The DOI matches its Crossref record; 551 of the 557 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological interventions to improve mental wellbeing
Abstract
Our current understanding of the efficacy of psychological interventions in improving mental states of wellbeing is incomplete. This study aimed to overcome limitations of previous reviews by examining the efficacy of distinct types of psychological interventions, irrespective of their theoretical underpinning, and the impact of various moderators, in a unified systematic review and meta-analysis. Four-hundred-and-nineteen randomized controlled trials from clinical and non-clinical populations (n = 53,288) were identified for inclusion. Mindfulness-based and multi-component positive psychological interventions demonstrated the greatest efficacy in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Meta-analyses also found that singular positive psychological interventions, cognitive and behavioural therapy-based, acceptance and commitment therapy-based, and reminiscence interventions were impactful. Effect sizes were moderate at best, but differed according to target population and moderator, most notably intervention intensity. The evidence quality was generally low to moderate. While the evidence requires further advancement, the review provides insight into how psychological interventions can be designed to improve mental wellbeing.
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“traditional psychotherapy alone can show limitations such as moderate effect sizes as well as a lack of generalizability and endpoint improvement, depending on the target population.”
From The Groundswell Community Surf Therapy Intervention for At-Risk Women and Changes in Body Acceptance, Resilience, and Emotional Regulation (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
In the citing paper
“a recent systematic and meta-analytic review evaluated a range of psychological interventions and their effects on mental well-being and found that mindfulness-based interventions demonstrated significant small to moderate improvements in general and mentally and physically ill population samples (van Agteren et al., 2021).”
From Pathways to mental well-being for graduates of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR): A mediation analysis of an RCT. (2024) · cites this paper as van Agteren et al., 2021
In the citing paper
“MBPs have demonstrated promising effects in addressing mental health across a wider distribution of the population (Galante et al., 2021; Khoury et al., 2013; van Agteren et al., 2021).”
From Pathways to mental well-being for graduates of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR): A mediation analysis of an RCT. (2024) · cites this paper as van Agteren et al., 2021
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Temporal dynamics of affect, screen time, and step count in individuals at risk for mood disorders
Helmink, F. G. L., van Roekel, E., Hillegers, M. H. J., Mesman, E., & Sperry, S. H. (2026) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291726105297
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Self-citationThe Effect of Deactivating Facebook and Instagram on Users’ Emotional State
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Metadata
- Authors
- van Agteren, J., Iasiello, M., Lo, L., Bartholomaeus, J., Kopsaftis, Z., Carey, M., & Kyrios, M.
- Affiliations
- Flinders University (AU)
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (AU)
- University of South Australia (AU)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Human Behaviour
- Published
- 2021-04-19
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 631-652
- ISSN
- 2397-3374 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3153837393
- Cited by
- 510
- References
- 557
- Citations by year
- 2026: 89 · 2025: 120 · 2024: 124 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 16
- FWCI
- 11.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Human Behaviour (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- James and Diana Ramsay Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- psychological intervention, psychological well-being, mindfulness-based interventions, positive psychology interventions, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, reminiscence intervention, intervention intensity, clinical populations, non-clinical population, intervention efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Psychosocial Intervention, Behavior Therapy, Humans, Mental Health, Psychotherapy, Treatment Outcome, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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