Review: Preventing Psychopathology in the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology to Target Coping and Emotion Regulation in Adolescents

Abstract

Objective

Exposure to stress is a risk factor for the development of psychopathology in adolescence. Coping and emotion regulation (ER) mediate and moderate the association between stress exposure and psychopathology, and interventions that teach coping and ER skills to adolescents have demonstrated efficacy for the prevention of psychological symptoms and disorders. Although multiple barriers limit the impact of in-person interventions, digital solutions are promising for delivering interventions in part or whole.

Method

The purpose of the current review is to inform the development of interventions that both work and impact public health. The focus is leveraging technology for the prevention of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in adolescents, with coping and ER as the mechanisms for change.

Results

A brief overview of the research on coping and ER is provided; extant in-person and digital interventions targeting coping and ER to prevent psychopathology in adolescents are discussed; and a direction for how the field can progress to bridge the gap between research and commercial silos is provided.

Conclusion

Taken together, this review can guide efforts toward technology-based and -enhanced preventive interventions targeting coping and ER to prevent psychopathology in adolescents.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement

We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our reference list. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our reference list.