Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39482259›Full record

SynthesisAustralian occupational therapy journal2025

Online interventions for the mental health and well-being of parents of children with additional needs: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Monica Leo, Helen Bourke-Taylor, Sorcha Odgers, Loredana Tirlea

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Australian occupational therapy journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Monica LeoOccupational Therapy Department, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8145-480X
Helen Bourke-TaylorOccupational Therapy Department, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9064-3274
Sorcha OdgersOccupational Therapy Department, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0009-0005-1920-2467
Loredana TirleaDepartment of Health Science and Biostatistics, School of Health Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3234-7995

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionParents of children with additional needs experience compromised physical and mental health and higher stress, and their ability to engage in meaningful occupations is impacted by their additional caregiving tasks. Online interventions targeting mental health, stress, and well-being for parents of children with additional needs have potential to increase supports alongside occupational therapy direct services. The aims of this review are to systematically identify and synthesise evidence of effectiveness of online interventions aimed at improving mental health, stress, and well-being of parents of children with additional needs.

methodEight databases were searched up to July 2024 to identify online interventions for parents of children with additional needs. Studies were appraised for methodological quality. Standardised effect sizes were calculated, and meta-analyses of randomised control trials (RCTs) were conducted on outcomes of mental health, well-being, and stress. CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: There was no consumer or community involvement.

resultsSystematic screening identified 30 papers that met inclusion criteria. Most were RCTs or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) with 'moderate' quality ratings: Three were designed by occupational therapists. There was substantial variation in intervention types, methods of delivery, outcomes, and outcome measures used. The pooled standardised effect size estimates (ES) and the lower and upper confidence intervals (CI) of online interventions from RCTs post-interventions were significant for mental health ES = 0.47, 95% CI (0.18, 0.77), p = 0.002; stress ES = 1.27, 95% CI (0.56, 1.98), p = 0.000; and well-being ES = 0.65, 95% CI (1.2, 0.06), p = 0.03, respectively.

conclusionThe online interventions that aimed to improve mental health, stress, and well-being included in this meta-analysis were effective. Occupational therapists supporting families play an important role in guiding parents of children with additional needs to evidence-based interventions to support them with addressing their own mental health and well-being needs.

Indexed as

Children with DisabilitiesInternet-Based InterventionMental HealthOccupational TherapyParentsStress, PsychologicalChildHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicchildren with additional needsmental healthonline interventionparentstresswell‐being

Identifiers

PMID39482259
PMCPMC11886486

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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.