Meta-Analysis of Psychological Interventions for Reducing Stress, Anxiety and Depression among University Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Review question / Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of internet-based intervention programs for reducing stress, anxiety and depression among university students during COVID-19 pandemic by conducting a meta-analysis Eligibility criteria: Inclusion criteria above all else for the current analysis were the following: (1) journal articles and "un-published" Ph.D. dissertations, which give a quantitative assessment of the viability of intervention for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among college under-graduates and graduates in the pandemic context; (2) studies targeting college undergraduate and graduate during COVID-19, aged 18 years or older; (3) studies with publication dates between 2020-2022, while COVID-19 restrictions started in 2020 and went on until 2022; (4) full-text studies published exclusively in English. Excluded from the review selection list were: (1) studies alluding to internet-based mental interventions that do not allude to the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Studies with the principal text not published in English language (just tables were in English); (3) studies, which does not give signs of stress and/or anxiety and/or depression; and (4) internet-based mental interventions, which do not have a diminishing of stress and/or anxiety and/or depression as their essential intervention focus.