A Detailed Study on the Effectiveness of Internet-based Self-help Interventions for Adolescents' Mental Health View PDF

S Nanditha
Medicine, Rajarajeswari Medical College And Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Polusani Pratham
Medicine, Government Medical College, Nizamabad, Telangana, India
Mullapudi Surendranadh Chowdary
Medicine, GSL Medical College & General Hospital, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
Vineela Kanneboyina
Medicine, Narayana Medical College And Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India

Published on: 2025-01-10

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of internet-based self-help interventions for adolescents' mental health. An investigation of internet-based self-help interventions aimed at reducing mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression, as well as managing high levels of stress, in adolescents was conducted. In literature, self-help readers elicit polarized views. Even though little research has been conducted specifically on self-help readers who suffer from mental illnesses, existing commentary indicates there is a particular tension: clinical researchers report good outcomes for depressed readers who participate in bibliotherapy programs that employ self-help books, which are comparable or superior to medication or talk therapy. On the other hand, media and culture scholars’ express reservations regarding the quality of self-help texts and emphasize the negative effects of therapeutic discourse on readers and audiences in general. In our review, however, we investigated how real readers interact with self-help books, particularly as they navigate mental illness experiences. Based on a reader-response heuristic we used to review different articles, this paper examines some of the ways habitual readers of self-help books describe their own interpretive activities, challenging previous research that either understates or understates the significance of vernacular audiences.

Keywords

Internet-based, Self-help, Mental health disorders, Adolescents

Introduction

An investigation of internet-based self-help interventions aimed at reducing mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression, as well as managing high levels of stress, in adolescents was studied [1, 2]. The search covered databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase till December, 2023. Rather than diagnosing specific mental disorders, our focus was on the evaluation of symptoms. The study included different comparisons involving 4620 participants and 89 published articles. Compared to the control group, participants receiving interventions reported significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, as well as improved quality of life [3]. Depression was treated moderately, and quality of life was treated moderately as well. Anxiety and stress showed small effects from intervention. Considering sample type, intervention method, and intervention duration, we conducted subgroup analyses for anxiety and depression. A significant difference between Those in college and adolescents was observed in anxiety and depression alleviation. The reduction of anxiety and depression was most effective with longer interventions [4, 5]. Moreover, third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapy showed pronounced intervention effects in both outcomes, whereas guidance did not have a significant impact. The authors conclude, among adolescents, internet-based self-help programs help alleviate the symptoms of psychological disorders. In spite of this, the available evidence exhibits inconsistencies and limitations. The findings of this study must therefore be verified and expanded through further research utilizing rigorous methodologies [6].