Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2024-11-07DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2420974
Michael C Rhoads, Madison E Barber, Nels Grevstad, Rena A Kirkland, Shannon Myers, Katherine A Gruidel, Ethan Greenwood
{"title":"Yoga as an intervention for stress: a meta-analysis.","authors":"Michael C Rhoads, Madison E Barber, Nels Grevstad, Rena A Kirkland, Shannon Myers, Katherine A Gruidel, Ethan Greenwood","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2420974","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2420974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The escalating stress epidemic in modern society has raised concerns about its impact on physical and mental health, prompting the need for effective interventions. Yoga, a multifaceted mind-body practice, has gained recognition for its potential in mitigating perceived stress. Our meta-analysis aimed to estimate yoga's impact on lowering perceived stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. We identified 36 studies meeting inclusion criteria and found a statistically significant moderate effect of yoga on reducing perceived stress (<i>g</i> = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.29-0.66). Our analysis uncovered substantial heterogeneity (<i>Q</i> = 117.33, <i>p</i> < .001), with 74.90% of the variation in effect sizes attributed to study characteristics. In planned moderator analyses, we hypothesised that yoga with breathwork, relaxation, high stress symptoms, greater number of hours practiced, and studies conducted in India would yield larger effects. Stress severity was shown to be statistically significant. However, the remaining hypotheses were not supported. Additionally, we examined five exploratory moderator variables, which did not yield significant results. Further research is needed to elucidate the source of heterogeneity across studies and reveal recommendations for specific populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"257-277"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142606932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-03-03DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2025.2471792
Arianna Bagnis, Stefanie H Meeuwis, Julia W Haas, Mary O'Keeffe, Elzbieta Anita Bajcar, Przemyslaw Babel, Andrea W M Evers, Eveliina Glogan, Marek Oleszczyk, Antonio Portoles, Johan W S Vlaeyen, Katia Mattarozzi
{"title":"A scoping review of placebo and nocebo responses and effects: insights for clinical trials and practice.","authors":"Arianna Bagnis, Stefanie H Meeuwis, Julia W Haas, Mary O'Keeffe, Elzbieta Anita Bajcar, Przemyslaw Babel, Andrea W M Evers, Eveliina Glogan, Marek Oleszczyk, Antonio Portoles, Johan W S Vlaeyen, Katia Mattarozzi","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2025.2471792","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2025.2471792","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Placebo and nocebo responses and effects influence treatment outcomes across a variety of conditions. The current scoping review aims to synthesise evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses in both clinical and healthy populations, elucidating key determinants of placebo and nocebo responses and effects, including individual, clinical, psychological and contextual factors. Among the 306 publications identified, 83% were meta-analyses and 17% systematic reviews, with a predominance of research in medical specialties (81.7%) such as psychiatry and neurology. Placebo responses were significantly more studied than nocebo responses. Individual determinants (e.g., age), clinical determinants (e.g., baseline symptom severity) and psychological determinants (e.g., expectations) were found to influence placebo and nocebo outcomes. Contextual determinants, including trial design and the method of treatment administration, also played critical roles. Several key underinvestigated areas in the current body of systematic reviews and meta-analyses were also identified. This scoping review highlights valuable insights into the determinants of placebo and nocebo responses and effects on a group level, potentially offering practical implications for optimising clinical trial designs and enhancing patient care strategies in clinical practice. However, to fully leverage these benefits, it is crucial to address the underexplored topics through more rigorous investigations using a person-centred perspective.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"409-447"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-10-13DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2410018
Lauren H Iannazzo, Melissa J Hayden, Natalia S Lawrence, Naomi Kakoschke, Laura K Hughes, Kelly Van Egmond, Jarrad Lum, Petra K Staiger
{"title":"Inhibitory control training to reduce appetitive behaviour: a meta-analytic investigation of effectiveness, potential moderators, and underlying mechanisms of change.","authors":"Lauren H Iannazzo, Melissa J Hayden, Natalia S Lawrence, Naomi Kakoschke, Laura K Hughes, Kelly Van Egmond, Jarrad Lum, Petra K Staiger","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2410018","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2410018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aims: </strong>Inhibitory control training (ICT) is a cognitive intervention that has been suggested to reduce problematic appetitive behaviours, such as unhealthy eating and excessive alcohol consumption. We conducted a meta-analytic review of ICT for reducing appetitive behaviours.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two meta-analyses were conducted for behavioural (objective) outcomes and self-report outcomes, along with 14 moderator analyses, and two secondary analyses investigating changes in cue-devaluation and inhibitory control.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The review included 46 articles (67 effect sizes and 4231 participants) and four appetitive health behaviours (eating, drinking, smoking, gambling). A significant effect of ICT on behavioural outcomes was found (SMD = 0.241, <i>p</i> .001). The self-report outcomes meta-analysis was not significant (<i>p</i> > .05). Secondary analyses also demonstrated greater inhibitory control (<i>p</i> < .05) and cue devaluation (<i>p</i> < .05) following ICT.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This meta-analytic review is the largest synthesis of ICT interventions for appetitive behaviours. ICT significantly reduced problematic eating behaviours when adopting behavioural outcomes, but this was not found for other appetitive behaviours. ICT also significantly improved inhibitory control and reduced cue evaluations. Further studies are required before drawing any conclusions regarding impacts on other appetitive behaviours.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"66-96"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142477821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-10-09DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2412630
Hanna Zaleskiewicz, Maria Siwa, Anna Banik, Zofia Szczuka, Ewa Kulis, Francesca Grossi, Polymeros Chrysochou, Bjørn Tore Nystrand, Toula Perrea, Antonella Samoggia, Arlind Xhelili, Athanasios Krystallis, Aleksandra Luszczynska
{"title":"Psychosocial determinants of alternative protein choices: a meta-review.","authors":"Hanna Zaleskiewicz, Maria Siwa, Anna Banik, Zofia Szczuka, Ewa Kulis, Francesca Grossi, Polymeros Chrysochou, Bjørn Tore Nystrand, Toula Perrea, Antonella Samoggia, Arlind Xhelili, Athanasios Krystallis, Aleksandra Luszczynska","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2412630","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2412630","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This meta-review synthesises evidence concerning individual-level psychosocial characteristics associated with alternative protein food (APF) choices. We investigated the associations between: (i) individual-level determinants based on the COM-B model (capabilities, perceived opportunities, motivation), sociodemographic factors, and (ii) indicators of APF choices (e.g., intention to eat, buy, pay, acceptance, intake). Differences in characteristics of APF made from plants, insects, mushrooms, and other APF sources were explored. Thirteen databases were searched in this pre-registered (CRD42023388694) meta-review and 28 reviews were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the ROBIS tool. For <i>plant-based APF</i> choices, consistent support was obtained for associations with (i) capabilities, including cooking skills, exposure to/familiarity with APF; (ii) motivations, including perceived health-related, pro-environmental, and sustainability benefits, and animal welfare; (iii) younger age and higher education. For <i>insect-based APF</i> choices, consistent support was obtained for (i) capabilities, including formal knowledge about APF, exposure to/familiarity with APF; (ii) perceived opportunities, encompassing positive social and cultural norms, distrust in technology; (iii) motivations, including perceived health benefits, pro-environmental and sustainability benefits, perceived health risks, being adventurous/daring, curiosity, neophilia, disgust; (iv) male gender and younger age. Recognising differences in potential determinants across various APF sources is essential for designing interventions aimed at promoting APF uptake.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"97-122"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142394295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-10-28DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2413871
Carolina C Silva, Justin Presseau, Zack van Allen, John Dinsmore, Paulina Schenk, Maiara Moreto, Marta M Marques
{"title":"Components of multiple health behaviour change interventions for patients with chronic conditions: a systematic review and meta-regression of randomized trials.","authors":"Carolina C Silva, Justin Presseau, Zack van Allen, John Dinsmore, Paulina Schenk, Maiara Moreto, Marta M Marques","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2413871","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2413871","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Interventions addressing more than one health behaviour at a time could be an efficient way of intervening to manage chronic conditions. Within a systematic review of multiple health behaviour change (MBHC) interventions, we identified key components of interventions in patients with chronic conditions, assessed how they are linked to theory, behaviour change techniques implemented, and evaluated their impact on intervention effectiveness. Studies were identified by systematically searching five electronic databases. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were conducted to analyse the association between intervention components and behavioural changes. In total, 61 studies were included spanning different chronic conditions (e.g., cardiovascular conditions, type 2 diabetes). Most interventions sought to change behaviours simultaneously (72%), often targeting the 'physical activity, diet and smoking' cluster of behaviours (33%), and were not theory informed (55%). A total of 36 behaviour change techniques were identified, most commonly <i>goal setting behaviour</i> and <i>self-monitoring of behaviour</i>. Subgroup analyses indicated that MHBC interventions delivered entirely face-to-face might not be as effective for physical activity outcomes, and not using <i>goal setting (behaviour)</i> might be more effective for smoking cessation outcomes. Meta-regressions indicated that a longer intervention duration may work best to achieve better physical activity outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of interventions and contributes to the field of MHBC by facilitating data-driven insights for future optimisation and dissemination.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"200-255"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142510486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-10-17DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2412996
Ryan E Rhodes, Colin M Wierts, Sasha Kullman, Emily Magel, Shaelyn Strachan
{"title":"Intervention effects on physical activity identity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Ryan E Rhodes, Colin M Wierts, Sasha Kullman, Emily Magel, Shaelyn Strachan","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2412996","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2412996","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Physical activity (PA) identity (i.e., categorisation of oneself in a particular role) has been linked to PA behaviour in observational research, yet experimental research has seen less attention. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the effectiveness of interventions to change identity and subsequent PA. Eligible studies were published in a peer-reviewed journal in English, included an experimental or quasi-experimental design in the PA domain with a measure of identity as the dependent variable, among an adult (>18 yrs.) sample. A literature search was completed in March 2024 using five common databases. The search yielded 40 independent effect sizes, representing 4939 participants. Random-effects meta-analysis showed positive changes in identity favouring the intervention over the control group <i>g</i> = 0.18 (95% CI = 0.11-0.24) and positive changes in a sub-sample (k = 30) of these studies that also measured PA <i>g </i>= 0.61 (95% CI = 0.41-0.81). Changes in identity did not have significant (Q = 43.08, <i>p</i> = 0.30) heterogeneity, yet changes in PA showed heterogeneity (Q = 204.62, <i>p</i> < .001) and follow-up moderator analyses found potential publication bias, and differences by methods (comparison group, length of intervention) and theoretical approach. Overall, PA identity can change as a result of interventions, but the effect may be smaller than changes in behaviour in these interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":"19 1","pages":"123-144"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143504934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-10-22DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2415950
Sara Tasnim, Phoebe Xin Hui Lim, Konstadina Griva, Joanne Ngeow
{"title":"Identifying the psychosocial barriers and facilitators associated with the uptake of genetic services for hereditary cancer syndromes: a systematic review of qualitative studies.","authors":"Sara Tasnim, Phoebe Xin Hui Lim, Konstadina Griva, Joanne Ngeow","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2415950","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2415950","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite evidence supporting genetic testing's utility in hereditary cancer risk management, uptake remains low among at-risk relatives of a hereditary cancer patient. The qualitative systematic review aims to identify the psychosocial barriers and facilitators associated with the uptake of genetic counselling services and/or genetic testing (GC/GT). A systematic literature search was performed across six databases in June 2023, limited to studies published in English from 2010 onwards. Qualitative studies interviewing hereditary cancer patients, their relatives, and/or healthcare providers to identify the psychosocial barriers and facilitators associated with the uptake of genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndrome were eligible for inclusion. A thematic analysis was conducted on the extracted data from 41 eligible qualitative studies. 54% of the studies were from the United States and 75% of the participants were female. 14 psychosocial barriers and nine facilitators to the uptake of genetic testing services were identified. The most frequently cited psychosocial barriers to genetic testing uptake were 'emotional roller coaster', 'threat of genetic discrimination', and 'no perceived benefit of genetic testing'. In contrast, the most common facilitators were 'concern for family', 'easing personal worries', and 'knowledge is empowering'. Our findings reveal complex factors affecting GC/GT service uptake, some with dual effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"172-199"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142477820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-10-17DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2413011
Jessica Balla, Martin S Hagger
{"title":"Protection motivation theory and health behaviour: conceptual review, discussion of limitations, and recommendations for best practice and future research.","authors":"Jessica Balla, Martin S Hagger","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2413011","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2413011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Protection motivation theory is a pre-eminent health behaviour theory purposed to predict participation in health protection and risk behaviours. It has been widely applied across multiple behaviours, populations and contexts. In this conceptual review, we summarise research applying the theory and identify shortcomings and evidence gaps that limit reported inferences and impede theory and intervention development. Accordingly, we provide recommendations for best practices and suggestions for future research to resolve these limitations. Limitations identified include a dearth of comprehensive theory tests, sparse evidence of theory sufficiency, a lack of studies including additional constructs, overuse of correlational and cross-sectional research designs, a paucity of intervention studies and tests of theory-consistent mechanisms of action, few tests intrapersonal and environmental moderators of theory effects and measurement concerns. We provide recommendations to address these limitations including conducting comprehensive theory tests in support of nomological validity; incorporating past behaviour and other constructs to establish theory sufficiency and extend its scope; adopting cross-lagged panel and factorial experimental research designs to test directional effects, permit better causal inference and test mechanisms of action; testing effects of moderators to identify conditions that may affect theory applicability and developing measurement standards for study constructs and adopting non-self-report behaviour measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"145-171"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142477822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-09-27DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2402809
Louise Poppe, Johan Steen, Wen Wei Loh, Geert Crombez, Fien De Block, Noortje Jacobs, Peter W G Tennant, Jelle Van Cauwenberg, Annick L De Paepe
{"title":"How to develop causal directed acyclic graphs for observational health research: a scoping review.","authors":"Louise Poppe, Johan Steen, Wen Wei Loh, Geert Crombez, Fien De Block, Noortje Jacobs, Peter W G Tennant, Jelle Van Cauwenberg, Annick L De Paepe","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2402809","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2402809","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Causal directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) serve as intuitive tools to visually represent causal relationships between variables. While they find widespread use in guiding study design, data collection and statistical analysis, their adoption remains relatively rare in the domain of psychology. In this paper we describe the relevance of DAGs for health psychology, review guidelines for developing causal DAGs, and offer recommendations for their development. A scoping review searching for papers and resources describing guidelines for DAG development was conducted. Information extracted from the eligible papers and resources (<i>n</i> = 11) was categorised, and results were used to formulate recommendations. Most records focused on DAG development for data analysis, with similar steps outlined. However, we found notable variations on how to implement confounding variables (i.e., sequential inclusion versus exclusion). Also, how domain knowledge should be integrated in the development process was scarcely addressed. Only one paper described how to perform a literature search for DAG development. Key recommendations for causal DAG development are provided and discussed using an illustrative example.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"45-65"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11875439/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142337009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health Psychology ReviewPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-07-23DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2024.2379784
Jake Linardon, Joseph Firth, John Torous, Mariel Messer, Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
{"title":"Efficacy of mental health smartphone apps on stress levels: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.","authors":"Jake Linardon, Joseph Firth, John Torous, Mariel Messer, Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz","doi":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2379784","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17437199.2024.2379784","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The management of stress has evolved in recent years due to widespread availability of mobile-device applications (apps) and their capacity to deliver psychological interventions. We evaluated the efficacy of mental health apps on stress and sought to identify characteristics associated with effect size estimates. Sixty-nine randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Random effects meta-analyses were performed and putative moderators were examined at univariate and multivariate (combinations and interactions) levels. From 78 comparisons, we observed a small but significant pooled effect of apps over control conditions on perceived stress levels (<i>g</i> = 0.27; 95% CI = 0.20, 0.34; <i>I</i><sup>2 </sup>= 68%). This effect weakened after taking into account small-study bias according to the trim-and-fill procedure (<i>g</i> = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.19; <i>I</i><sup>2 </sup>= 78%). Delivery of apps with stress monitoring features produced smaller efficacy estimates, although this association interacted with other trial features (small sample size and inactive control group) in multivariate analyses, suggesting that this effect may have been explained by features characteristic of low-quality trials. Mental health apps appear to have small, acute effects on reducing perceived stress. Future research should shift focus towards identifying change mechanisms, longitudinal outcomes, features that facilitate sustained app usage, and tangible pathways to integrating apps into real-world clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":48034,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology Review","volume":" ","pages":"839-852"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141749348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}