The efficacy of psychosocial interventions for grief symptoms in bereaved children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The efficacy of psychosocial interventions for grief symptoms in bereaved children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors
Hanauer, C. Telaar, B. Rosner, R. Doering, B. K.
Year
2024
Journal
Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume
350
Pages
164-173
BACKGROUND: The present meta-analysis investigates the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in bereaved children and adolescents. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review searching PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PubMed, MEDLINE, PSYNDEX, Web of Science, CINAHL and ERIC. Random-effects meta-analyses examined the effect of interventions on symptoms of grief, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in controlled and uncontrolled studies. RESULTS: We included 39 studies (n = 5.578). Post-treatment, preventive interventions demonstrated a significant effect on grief (uncontrolled studies: g = 0.29, 95%CI [0.09;0.48]; controlled studies: g = 0.18, 95%CI [0.03;0.32]). For symptoms of PTSD and depression, only uncontrolled preventive studies yielded significant effects (PTSD: g = 0.24, 95%CI [0.11;0.36]; depression: g = 0.28, 95%CI [0.10;0.45]). Interventions targeting youth with increased grief-related distress demonstrated a significant effect in uncontrolled studies on grief (g = 1.25, 95%CI [0.94;1.57]), PTSD (g = 1.33, 95%CI [0.85;1.82]) and depression (g = 0.61, 95%CI [0.45;0.77]). A controlled effect size could only be calculated for PTSD symptoms (g = 0.71, 95%CI [0.15;1.27]). LIMITATIONS: Interventions varied widely, contributing to high heterogeneity. Only a small number of studies with mostly limited quality could be analysed. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial interventions may ameliorate grief symptoms in bereaved youth, especially when targeting youth with elevated grief distress. However, the effects observed in uncontrolled studies are substantially reduced when controlling for the natural course of bereavement. Given the increasing number of children worldwide bereaved through ongoing crises, research on interventions is surprisingly sparse.

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Type of intervention

Early Intervention

Treatment and Child Welfare Interventions

Topic

Mental Health Problems and Disorders

Emotional Problems

Depression and Depressed Mood

Anxiety Problems

Anxiety and Anxiousness

Trauma/ Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Parenting Skills

Children of parents with serious mental or physical illness

Intervention

Psychological Treatments

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Therapy

Psychoeducational Interventions

The organization of interventions

Group Interventions

Age group

School Aged Children (6-12 years)

Adolescents (13-18 years)

More information
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