Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39780192›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of mental health systems2025

A systematic realist synthesis of digital interventions for enhancing mental health at work: contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes.

Josefina Peláez Zuberbuhler, Luca Pietrantoni, Greta Mazzetti, Marco De Angelis, Davide Giusino, Mabel San Román-Niaves, Dina Guglielmi, Marisa Salanova

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of mental health systems, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. 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

8 authors.

Josefina Peláez ZuberbuhlerWANT Research Team, Department of Social Psychology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain. josefinapelaez.zuberbuhler@kristiania.no.
Luca PietrantoniDepartment of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. luca.pietrantoni@unibo.it.
Greta MazzettiDepartment of Education Studies "Giovanni Maria Bertin", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Marco De AngelisDepartment of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Davide GiusinoDepartment of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Mabel San Román-NiavesWANT Research Team, Department of Social Psychology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain.
Dina GuglielmiDepartment of Education Studies "Giovanni Maria Bertin", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Marisa SalanovaWANT Research Team, Department of Social Psychology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain.

Funding

European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme 847368
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDigital interventions (DIs) have emerged as promising tools for promoting mental health in the workplace. However, evidence on if, how, and under what circumstances they affect positive outcomes requires elucidation. This systematic realist review aimed to synthesize current knowledge on contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes of workplace DIs to enhance mental health at work.

methodsThe review integrates elements of both systematic and realist review methodologies. Forty-four workplace mental health DIs studies were gathered through a systematic electronic search using PsycNet, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubPsych.

resultsResults showed that demographics, previous mental health, and personal skills were the main individual context factors influencing the success of DIs. Key mechanisms were DIs usage, frequency, adherence, and relevance of content triggering positive perceptual shifts. Results showed improvements in psychological resources, wellbeing, and affect. Reduced ill-health symptoms were also evidenced. Five propositions were developed on the contexts and mechanisms under which digital interventions yield positive outcomes for mental health at work.

conclusionsThis study highlights several areas where future research can expand our understanding of DIs in the workplace by examining interactions between mechanisms and cultural aspects influencing implementation.

Indexed as

Digital interventionsMental healthWorking mechanismsWorkplace

Identifiers

PMID39780192
PMCPMC11715839

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

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.