Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42099076›Full record

SynthesisJMIR mental health2026

Behavior Change Techniques in Digital Health Interventions for Promoting Adolescent Health Behaviors: Systematic Umbrella Review.

Nikolaos Boumparis, Philippe de Riedmatten, Katrina Champion, Gloria Cea, Teresa de Pablo-Pardo, Kleio Koutra, Katie Rizvi, Hayley Pearce, Andreas Triantafyllidis, Ana Molina-Barceló and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in JMIR mental health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

12 authors.

Nikolaos BoumparisSwiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, University of Zurich, Konradstrasse 32, Zurich, 8005, Switzerland, +41444481173.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3693-0168
Philippe de RiedmattenSwiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, University of Zurich, Konradstrasse 32, Zurich, 8005, Switzerland, +41444481173.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-3319-4525
Katrina ChampionThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8319-9366
Gloria CeaBRIDG OÜ, Tallinn, Estonia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6947-4672
Teresa de Pablo-PardoCancer and Public Health Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research, Valencia, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-7878-9643
Kleio KoutraLaboratory of Applied Social Research and Social Work, Department of Social Work, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Heraklion, Greece.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9713-5013
Katie RizviYouth Cancer Europe, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1706-5348
Hayley PearceDepartment of Communication Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5949-7232
Andreas TriantafyllidisCentre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6938-8256
Ana Molina-BarcelóCancer and Public Health Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research, Valencia, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5113-6475
Michael Patrick SchaubSwiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, University of Zurich, Konradstrasse 32, Zurich, 8005, Switzerland, +41444481173.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8375-4005
Severin HaugSwiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, University of Zurich, Konradstrasse 32, Zurich, 8005, Switzerland, +41444481173.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6539-5045

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Digital health interventions (DHIs) using behavior change techniques (BCTs) show promise in addressing adolescent health behaviors, but evidence of their effectiveness across health behavior domains remains fragmented and poorly summarized. Objective: This systematic umbrella review synthesized evidence from existing systematic reviews on the effectiveness of BCTs within DHI targeting key adolescent health behavior domains: alcohol consumption, tobacco use, physical activity, dietary habits, and obesity management. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, and CINAHL in April 2024 for reviews of DHI for adolescents (10-19 years old). We coded all identified BCTs using the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy version 1 (BCTTv1). Data on BCT effectiveness, intervention characteristics, and review quality were extracted and narratively synthesized using AMSTAR-2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2). Results: A total of 20 reviews, comprising 224,135 participants, were included. These examined DHIs targeting physical activity (7 reviews), dietary habits (3 reviews), alcohol consumption (2 reviews), combined alcohol and nicotine use (1 review), and obesity management (1 review), with an additional 6 reviews covering multiple health behaviors. Across reviews, 65% (13/20) reported statistically significant positive effects on at least one health behavior outcome. "Social support (unspecified)" was the most consistently adopted and effective BCT, especially with parental/peer involvement. The combination of "self-monitoring," "goal setting," and "feedback" also commonly appeared in successful interventions. Intervention effectiveness appeared linked to strategic BCT selection and individualization rather than the total number of techniques. The methodological quality of included reviews was predominantly low, with only 2 rated high. Conclusions: This umbrella review identified "social support (unspecified)" as a consistently effective BCT across multiple adolescent health behavior domains, particularly with parental/peer involvement. Intervention success appears linked to targeted and individualized BCT use. Future research should prioritize clarifying the specific components and delivery methods of effective social support, rigorously evaluating BCT configurations in underexplored areas such as adolescent smoking cessation, and examining their long-term impact on behavior change.

Indexed as

Adolescent BehaviorBehavior TherapyDigital HealthHealth BehaviorHealth PromotionAdolescentHumansadolescent healthbehavior change techniquesdigital healthhealth promotionsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42099076
PMCPMC13153395

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.