- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the works authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journals published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Psychosocial Interventions as Mental Health Support for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v9i5.7057Keywords:
Children and Adolescents Mental Health Special Needs Psychosocial InterventionsAbstract
This study aims to identify the importance of mental health support for children and adolescents with special needs through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach. The SLR process involved the identification, selection, and analysis of articles obtained from the Scopus database using the keywords “children,” “adolescents,” and “special needs.” Out of an initial 55 articles, 10 relevant studies were selected, comprising longitudinal, qualitative, and experimental research published in Q1 to Q4 indexed journals. These studies examined psychosocial interventions such as school-based counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and social skills training. The findings indicate that sustained and contextually adapted interventions have a positive impact on psychological well-being, social adaptation, and academic achievement among children and adolescents with special needs. Active support from families, educational institutions, and communities emerged as key factors contributing to the success of these interventions. This review highlights the necessity of integrating interdisciplinary frameworks in policy and intervention development and encourages further research exploring the effectiveness of cross-cultural and longitudinal approaches.
Downloads
References
Allshouse, C., Comeau, M., Rodgers, R., & Wells, N. (2018). Families of children with medical complexity: A view from the front lines. Pediatrics, 141. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-1284D
Andersen, L. M. B., Rasmussen, A. N., Reavley, N. J., Bøggild, H., & Overgaard, C. (2021). The social route to mental health: A systematic review and synthesis of theories linking social relationships to mental health to inform interventions. SSM - Mental Health, 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2021.100042
Austin, F., Wright, K. E., Jackson, B., Lin, A., Schweizer, K., & Furzer, B. J. (2024). A scoping review of trans and gender diverse children and adolescents’ experiences of physical activity, sport, and exercise participation. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100576
Betancourt, T. S., Meyers-Ohki, S. E., Charrow, A. P., & Tol, W. A. (2013). Interventions for children affected by war: An ecological perspective on psychosocial support and mental health care. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 21(2). https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0b013e318283bf8f
Birrell, L., Werner-Seidler, A., Davidson, L., Andrews, J. L., & Slade, T. (2025). Social connection as a key target for youth mental health. Mental Health & Prevention, 37, 200395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200395
Bitsko, R. H., Claussen, A. H., Lichstein, J., Black, L. I., Jones, S. E., Danielson, M. L., Hoenig, J. M., Davis Jack, S. P., Brody, D. J., Gyawali, S., Maenner, M. J., Warner, M., Holland, K. M., Perou, R., Crosby, A. E., Blumberg, S. J., Avenevoli, S., Kaminski, J. W., & Ghandour, R. M. (2022). Mental health surveillance among children — United States, 2013–2019. MMWR Supplements, 71(2). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7102a1
Brenner, M., Kidston, C., Hilliard, C., Coyne, I., Eustace-Cook, J., Doyle, C., Begley, T., & Barrett, M. J. (2018). Children’s complex care needs: A systematic concept analysis of multidisciplinary language. European Journal of Pediatrics, 177(11). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-018-3216-9
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32(7). https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.32.7.513
Chavira, D. A., Bantados, B., Rapp, A., Firpo-Perretti, Y. M., Escovar, E., Dixon, L., Drahota, A., & Palinkas, L. A. (2017). Parent-reported stigma and child anxiety: A mixed methods research study. Children and Youth Services Review, 76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.03.013
Cherewick, M., Daniel, C., Shrestha, C. C., Giri, P., Dukpa, C., Cruz, C. M., Rai, R. P., & Matergia, M. (2023). Psychosocial interventions for autistic children and adolescents delivered by non-specialists in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1181976
Dvorsky, M. R., Shroff, D., Larkin Bonds, W. B., Steinberg, A., Breaux, R., & Becker, S. P. (2023). Impacts of COVID-19 on the school experience of children and adolescents with special educational needs and disabilities. Current Opinion in Psychology, 52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101635
Elhai, J. D., Voorhees, S., Ford, J. D., Min, K. S., & Frueh, B. C. (2009). Sociodemographic, perceived and objective need indicators of mental health treatment use and treatment-seeking intentions among primary care medical patients. Psychiatry Research, 165(1–2), 145–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2007.12.001
Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.847460
Gao, Y., Yu, Q., Schuch, F. B., Herold, F., Hossain, M. M., Ludyga, S., Gerber, M., Mullen, S. P., Yeung, A. S., Kramer, A. F., Taylor, A., Schinke, R., Cheval, B., Delli Paoli, A. G., Ng, J. L., Van Damme, T., Block, M., Cunha, P. M., Olds, T., … Zou, L. (2024). Meeting 24-h movement behavior guidelines is linked to academic engagement, psychological functioning, and cognitive difficulties in youth with internalizing problems. Journal of Affective Disorders, 349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.017
Gillé, V., Allgayer, K., Wengert, M., & Eschenbeck, H. (2024). Well-being in children and adolescents with hearing/listening impairment from a special needs school during the Covid-19 pandemic: Associations with stressful situations and self-efficacy. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2023.2286953
Golubovi?, Š., & Škrbi?, R. (2013). Agreement in quality of life assessment between adolescents with intellectual disability and their parents. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2013.03.006
Hidalgo, M. V., Jiménez, L., López-Verdugo, I., Lorence, B., & Sánchez, J. (2016). “Family Education and Support” program for families at psychosocial risk: The role of implementation process. Psychosocial Intervention, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psi.2016.03.002
Hou, M., Herold, F., Healy, S., Haegele, J. A., Block, M. E., Ludyga, S., Schuch, F. B., Ng, J. L., Gerber, M., Hossain, M. M., Taylor, A., Van Damme, T., Müller, N. G., Kramer, A. F., & Zou, L. (2023). 24-Hour movement behaviors among visually impaired US children and adolescents. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2023.100545
Hou, M., Herold, F., Werneck, A. O., Teychenne, M., Paoli, A. G. D., Taylor, A., Van Damme, T., Kramer, A. F., Hossain, M. M., Yeung, A. S., Owen, N., Gerber, M., Ludyga, S., Cheval, B., & Zou, L. (2024). Associations of 24-hour movement behaviors with externalizing and internalizing problems among children and adolescents prescribed with eyeglasses/contact lenses. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100435
Hultkrantz, L., Karpaty, P., & Vimefall, E. (2017). Education-earnings linkage for assessing societal benefits of interventions for children and youth in Sweden. Psychosocial Intervention, 26(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psi.2017.06.001
Jaudes, P. K., Weil, L. E. G., Prior, J. M., Sharp, D. P., Holzberg, M., & McClelland, G. M. (2016). Wellbeing of children and adolescents with special health care needs in the child welfare system. Children and Youth Services Review, 70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.09.024
Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.2307/3090197
Keyes, K. M., & Platt, J. M. (2024). Annual research review: Sex, gender, and internalizing conditions among adolescents in the 21st century – trends, causes, consequences. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 65(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13864
Kirkham, J. J., Dwan, K. M., Altman, D. G., Gamble, C., Dodd, S., Smyth, R., & Williamson, P. R. (2010). The impact of outcome reporting bias in randomised controlled trials on a cohort of systematic reviews. BMJ (Online), 340(7747). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c365
Kovács, K. E., Balogh, É. Z., Lovas, B., Boris, P., & Nagy, B. E. (2024). The role of animal-assisted programs in physical health improvement of children and adolescents with special education needs - a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18326-y
Kuo, D. Z., Cohen, E., Agrawal, R., Berry, J. G., & Casey, P. H. (2011). A national profile of caregiver challenges among more medically complex children with special health care needs. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 165(11). https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.172
Kuyken, W., Weare, K., Ukoumunne, O. C., Vicary, R., Motton, N., Burnett, R., Cullen, C., Hennelly, S., & Huppert, F. (2013). Effectiveness of the mindfulness in schools programme: Non-randomised controlled feasibility study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 203(2). https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.113.126649
Lakey, B., & Orehek, E. (2011). Relational regulation theory: A new approach to explain the link between perceived social support and mental health. Psychological Review, 118(3). https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023477
Lee, R. L. T., Lane, S. J., Tang, A. C. Y., Leung, C., Louie, L. H. T., Browne, G., & Chan, S. W. C. (2020). Effects of an unstructured free play and mindfulness intervention on wellbeing in kindergarten students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155382
Leijten, P., Melendez-Torres, G. J., Gardner, F., van Aar, J., Schulz, S., & Overbeek, G. (2018). Are relationship enhancement and behavior management “the golden couple” for disruptive child behavior? Two meta-analyses. Child Development, 89(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13051
Lima, P. M. V. de M., Fernandes, L. T. B., Santos, M. M., Cavalcante, M. E. P. L., Neves, E. T., Toso, B. R. G. de O., Collet, N., & Vaz, E. M. C. (2024). Home care service for children/adolescents with special health care needs: Family perception. Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem, 45, e20230189. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-1447.2024.20230189.en
Liu, Z., Chen, Y., Herold, F., Cheval, B., Falck, R. S., Kramer, A. F., Gerber, M., Werneck, A. O., An, R., Teychenne, M., Owen, N., & Zou, L. (2024). Linking social determinants of health to mental health, movement behaviors, and cognitive function among U.S. youth. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 27, 100639. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MHPA.2024.100639
Lorthe, E., Dumont, R., Richard, V., Loizeau, A., Blanchard-Rohner, G., Schrempft, S., Baysson, H., Zaballa, M.-E., Lamour, J., Eigenmann, P., Garcia-Tarodo, S., Mejbri, M., Rock, N., Ruchonnet-Métrailler, I., Nehme, M., Barbe, R. P., Posfay-Barbe, K. M., Guessous, I., Stringhini, S., & SEROCoV-KIDS study group*. (2025). Well-being of children and adolescents with and without special health care needs following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions. The Journal of Pediatrics, 281, 114528. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JPEDS.2025.114528
McGorry, P. D., Mei, C., Dalal, N., Alvarez-Jimenez, M., Blakemore, S. J., Browne, V., Dooley, B., Hickie, I. B., Jones, P. B., McDaid, D., Mihalopoulos, C., Wood, S. J., El Azzouzi, F. A., Fazio, J., Gow, E., Hanjabam, S., Hayes, A., Morris, A., Pang, E., … Killackey, E. (2024). The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 11(9), 731–774. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00163-9
McGrath, A., Matthews, E., Murphy, N., Oostveen, I., Wagemakers, A., & Verkooijen, K. (2024). Identification of relevant mental health indicators for European community-based health enhancing physical activity initiatives: An adapted Delphi study. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 27, 100638. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MHPA.2024.100638
Mohler-Kuo, M., & Dey, M. (2012). A comparison of health-related quality of life between children with versus without special health care needs, and children requiring versus not requiring psychiatric services. Quality of Life Research, 21(9). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0078-2
Mujki?, A., & Lovren?i?, I. L. (2024). The management of disability in children and adolescents. Global Pediatrics, 9, 100198. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.GPEDS.2024.100198
Nour, B. M. L., Elhai, J. D., Ford, J. D., & Frueh, B. C. (2009). The role of physical health functioning, mental health, and sociodemographic factors in determining the intensity of mental health care use among primary care medical patients. Psychological Services, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017375
Oldfield, J., Humphrey, N., & Hebron, J. (2015). Cumulative risk effects for the development of behaviour difficulties in children and adolescents with special educational needs and disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 41–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2015.05.010
Paton, K., Darling, S., Nowell, C., Gandhi, S., Jorm, A., Hart, L. M., Yap, M. B. H., & Oberklaid, F. (2025). Development of the children’s wellbeing continuum: Fostering conversation in child mental health. Mental Health & Prevention, 37, 200385. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MHP.2024.200385
Poon, E. T. C., Wongpipit, W., Sun, F., Tse, A. C. Y., & Sit, C. H. P. (2023). High-intensity interval training in children and adolescents with special educational needs: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01421-5
Rahmani, A. M., Lai, J., Jafarlou, S., Azimi, I., Yunusova, A., Rivera, A. P., Labbaf, S., Anzanpour, A., Dutt, N., Jain, R., & Borelli, J. L. (2022). Personal mental health navigator: Harnessing the power of data, personal models, and health cybernetics to promote psychological well-being. Frontiers in Digital Health, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.933587
Ruiz-Robledillo, N., & Moya-Albiol, L. (2015). Effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention program on the health of caregivers of people with autism spectrum disorder. Psychosocial Intervention, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psi.2015.01.001
Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6). https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
Sawyer, S. M., Drew, S., Yeo, M. S., & Britto, M. T. (2007). Adolescents with a chronic condition: Challenges living, challenges treating. The Lancet, 369(9571), 1481–1489. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60370-5
Sládková, J. (2014). “The guys told us crying that they saw how they were killing her and they could not do anything”: Psychosocial explorations of migrant journeys to the U.S. Psychosocial Intervention, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.5093/in2013a9pp
Vigo, D., Thornicroft, G., & Atun, R. (2016). Estimating the true global burden of mental illness. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00505-2
Warschburger, P., Kamrath, C., Lanzinger, S., Sengler, C., Wiegand, S., Göldel, J. M., Weihrauch-Blüher, S., Holl, R. W., & Minden, K. (2023). A prospective analysis of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and health care among children with a chronic condition and their families: A study protocol of the KICK-COVID study. BMC Pediatrics, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-03912-7
Wiedermann, C. J., Barbieri, V., Plagg, B., Marino, P., Piccoliori, G., & Engl, A. (2023). Fortifying the foundations: A comprehensive approach to enhancing mental health support in educational policies amidst crises. Healthcare (Switzerland), 11(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11101423
Yang, W., Yu, J. J., Wong, S. H. S., Sum, R. K. W., Carty, C., & Sit, C. H. P. (2023). Promoting mental health in children and adolescents with disabilities through school-based physical activity intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2023.100554
Downloads
Published
Indexing Check
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dame Triulina Hutasoit, Wiwin Hendriani (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:


