ReviewInternet interventions2022
Efficacy of internet-based interventions for common mental disorder symptoms and psychosocial problems in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Review in Internet interventions, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 41 citations in OpenAlex.
- A meta-analysis of preventive psychosocial interventions against depressive and anxiety symptoms in older adults.Psychological medicine · 2026Pooled it
- [Internet-based self-help for loneliness-a systematic review].Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz · 2024Pooled it
- Lifefulness - feasibility and acceptability of a self-guided digital intervention promoting mental health among older adults in Sweden.Internet interventions · 2026Article
- Digital Tools to Support Mental Health in Later Life: Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews.Current psychiatry reports · 2026Article
- How does internet use affect the mental health of older adults: examining the mediating pathways of perception of social fairness and physical activity.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- A Design Thinking Approach for Transnational Adaptation of 2 Mobile Mental Health Apps: Tutorial for Researchers and Practitioners.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Engagement with digital platforms and perspectives on WhatsApp based mental health self-help solution for older adults: a qualitative study from India.Discover mental health · 2025Article
- Digital interventions for common mental health problems among older adults in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.BMJ global health · 2025Article
- Efficacy of the internet-based intervention "Cultivating our resilience" (CORE) for improving resilience and coping strategies in university students: A randomized controlled trial.Internet interventions · 2025Article
- The impact of internet use on the health status of the older adults in China: a chain mediating model of social interaction and physical exercise.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- User-centered development of an internet-based CBT intervention for the treatment of loneliness in older individuals.Internet interventions · 2024Article
- Effect of Internet Use on Cognitive Function of Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults in China: Evidence from China Family Panel Studies.Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports · 2024Article
- User involvement in digital mental health: approaches, potential and the need for guidelines.Frontiers in digital health · 2024Article
- The impact of internet use on health status among older adults in China: The mediating role of social support.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Article
- Feasibility of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Older Adults With the Moodbuster Platform: Protocol for 2 Pilot Feasibility Studies.JMIR research protocols · 2022Article
- Article
- The Effect of Heartfulness Meditation Program on Burnout and Satisfaction With Life Among Accounting Professionals.Global advances in health and medicine · 2022Article
- Commentary: The psychological and social impact of COVID-19: New perspectives of well-being.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Article
- Health Economic Perspective on Internet-Based Psychological Interventions for the Prevention and Management of Eating Disorders.Harvard review of psychiatryReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlthough a high proportion of older adults suffer from common mental disorder symptoms and psychosocial problems, only a small number of older individuals seek psychological treatment. Internet-based interventions have the potential to bridge this treatment gap. However, while there is extensive literature on internet-based treatments in younger to middle-aged adults, research on older individuals is lacking.
objectiveWe aimed to summarize narratively and empirically the existing literature on the efficacy of internet-based interventions for the treatment of common mental disorder symptoms and psychosocial problems (loneliness, stress) in older individuals.
methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021235129). Systematic literature searches were conducted in PsycInfo, Ageline, Medline, CINHAL, and Psyndex. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they a) focused on older adults, b) assessed the efficacy of an internet-delivered psychological intervention, c) included a control condition and d) assessed common mental disorder symptoms or psychosocial problems as outcomes. Meta-analyses were conducted based on studies that included a passive, minimally active or placebo control condition to estimate pooled effects on overall symptom severity as well as on specific psychological outcomes.
results11 Studies met inclusion criteria, with the majority of interventions focusing on depression or anxiety symptoms and being based on CBT principles. Significant large effect of internet-based interventions for older adults were found for overall symptom severity (depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress) as well as for depression symptom severity. No significant effects were found for anxiety symptom severity. DISCUSSION: Our findings provide preliminary support that internet-based interventions might be a feasible and effective intervention method for the treatment of common mental disorder symptoms and stress in older adults. However, research in this area is still at an early stage. More studies are needed to shed light on the role of various treatment and patient characteristics in the efficacy of internet-delivered treatments.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.