DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS - Abstract - A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Q: What was the study design and sample size of the meta-analysis?

The research used multilevel modelling to meta-analyze randomized controlled trials, including 40 studies with 5,148 participants.

Q: How effective were digital interventions for depression and anxiety?

Digital interventions showed significant beneficial effects for depression (g=-0.28) and anxiety (g=-0.22), compared with control conditions.

Q: Which factors moderated the depression effects, and what does heterogeneity imply?

Depression effects were larger with guided human support and smartphone-delivered interventions versus unguided or internet-based approaches. Significant heterogeneity suggests effectiveness varies by delivery method and inclusion of human guidance.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Riley

Growing mental health concerns among older adults and limited access to traditional services motivate scalable digital approaches. A multilevel meta-analysis synthesized 40 randomized controlled trials (5,148 participants) evaluating digital mental health interventions. Primary findings showed significant benefits for depression and anxiety, with effect sizes of g=-0.28 and g=-0.22. Secondary outcomes improved cognitive functioning and loneliness (g=0.35; g=-0.29), while effects on quality of life approached significance. Moderator analyses indicated larger depression effects when guided human support and smartphone delivery were used, highlighting variability by delivery method and guidance inclusion.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract citation ID

Study design and sample

Primary outcomes

Secondary outcomes and moderators

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 825 secondary outcomes including cognitive functioning, loneliness, and quality of life. Compared to control conditions, digital interventions demonstrated significant beneficial effects for depression (g = -0.28, 95% CI [-0.43, -0.13], p < .001) and anxiety (g =-0.22, 95% CI [-0.45, 0.00], p = .05) . Secondary outcomes showed effects for cognitive functioning (g = 0.35, 95% CI [0.06, 0.64], p < .05) and loneliness (g = -0.29, 95% CI [-0.50, -0.08], p < .01), with effects on quality of life approaching significance (g = 0.22, 95% CI [-0.02, 0.46], p = .07). Moderator analyses for depression revealed larger effects for interventions employing guided human support and for smartphone-delivered interventions compared to unguided or internet-based approaches. Digital interventions appear effective for addressing mental health concerns in older adults, depression and anxiety, improving cognitive functioning and loneliness. The significant heterogeneity suggests that effectiveness varies based on intervention delivery method and the inclusion of human guidance. These findings not only highlight the potential of digital mental health tools for expanding psychotherapy options for older adults, but also suggest that personalized intervention addressing the individual needs can maximize the intervention outcomes. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2797 DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS: A META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS Yahui Wang, and Dannii Yeung, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China (People’s Republic) With growing mental health concerns among older adults and limited access to traditional services, digital interventions may offer a scalable solution. However, evidence regarding their effectiveness across different mental health outcomes remains unclear. Using multilevel modelling, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining digital interventions for older adults was conducted. Forty studies comprising 5,148 participants were analysed. Primary outcomes were depression and anxiety, with

FAQs

What was the study design and sample size of the meta-analysis?

The research used multilevel modelling to meta-analyze randomized controlled trials, including 40 studies with 5,148 participants.

How effective were digital interventions for depression and anxiety?

Digital interventions showed significant beneficial effects for depression (g=-0.28) and anxiety (g=-0.22), compared with control conditions.

Which factors moderated the depression effects, and what does heterogeneity imply?

Depression effects were larger with guided human support and smartphone-delivered interventions versus unguided or internet-based approaches. Significant heterogeneity suggests effectiveness varies by delivery method and inclusion of human guidance.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Riley