The role of self-efficacy in internet-based interventions for mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IF 3.6 2区医学 Q1 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health Pub Date : 2025-04-05 DOI:10.1016/j.invent.2025.100821

Solveig Behr , Laura Martinez Garcia , Julia Lucas , Esther Kohlhase , Marie Puetz , Johanna Boettcher , Carmen Schaeuffele , Christine Knaevelsrud

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Internet-based interventions (IBI) increase access to evidence-based treatments for mental disorders, but knowledge of their mechanisms of change is limited. Self-efficacy, a key factor in psychotherapy, is especially relevant in IBI due to its self-help focus. We investigated self-efficacy and related constructs as outcomes, predictors/moderators, and mediators in randomized controlled trials.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted across PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Two reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and assessed bias. Effects were quantified using random effect models and supplemented by narrative syntheses and box score visualizations.

Results

70 studies (N = 17,407 participants) were included. IBI showed moderate effects on self-efficacy in within (d = 0.47) and between (d = 0.46) comparisons, with guided interventions having the largest effect (d = 0.66). Findings on self-efficacy as a predictor/moderator were mixed, though some studies suggested individuals with lower self-efficacy benefit more. Self-efficacy emerged as a mediator through which IBI affected treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

Self-efficacy appears influential in IBI efficacy and may itself be a valuable treatment target. However, mixed results and methodological limitations in mediator studies highlight the need for further research, particularly on long-term effects.

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自我效能感在基于网络的心理健康干预中的作用：系统回顾和荟萃分析

导言基于互联网的干预（IBI）增加了精神障碍循证治疗的可及性，但对其改变机制的了解却很有限。自我效能感是心理治疗中的一个关键因素，由于其自助性，它与 IBI 尤为相关。我们调查了随机对照试验中作为结果、预测因子/调节因子和中介因子的自我效能和相关构建。两名审稿人选择研究、提取数据并评估偏倚。采用随机效应模型对效果进行量化，并辅以叙述性综述和盒式评分可视化。结果共纳入 70 项研究（N = 17,407 名参与者）。在内部（d = 0.47）和之间（d = 0.46）比较中，综合干预对自我效能感的影响适中，其中引导式干预的影响最大（d = 0.66）。关于自我效能感作为预测因素/调节因素的研究结果不一，但一些研究表明，自我效能感较低的人受益更多。结论：自我效能感似乎对 IBI 的疗效有影响，其本身也可能是一个有价值的治疗目标。然而，中介研究的结果参差不齐且存在方法上的局限性，这凸显了进一步研究的必要性，尤其是对长期效果的研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health Medicine-Health Informatics

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

9.30%

发文量

审稿时长

6 weeks

期刊介绍： Official Journal of the European Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ESRII) and the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ISRII). The aim of Internet Interventions is to publish scientific, peer-reviewed, high-impact research on Internet interventions and related areas. Internet Interventions welcomes papers on the following subjects: • Intervention studies targeting the promotion of mental health and featuring the Internet and/or technologies using the Internet as an underlying technology, e.g. computers, smartphone devices, tablets, sensors • Implementation and dissemination of Internet interventions • Integration of Internet interventions into existing systems of care • Descriptions of development and deployment infrastructures • Internet intervention methodology and theory papers • Internet-based epidemiology • Descriptions of new Internet-based technologies and experiments with clinical applications • Economics of internet interventions (cost-effectiveness) • Health care policy and Internet interventions • The role of culture in Internet intervention • Internet psychometrics • Ethical issues pertaining to Internet interventions and measurements • Human-computer interaction and usability research with clinical implications • Systematic reviews and meta-analysis on Internet interventions