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This study examines the effects of OAE on adolescent social and emotional wellbeing and their contributors. Intervention studies (single or multi-arm) assessing the effects of OAE on wellbeing were included. Meta-analysis was conducted on outcomes of interest, and the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) Tool assessed RoB in multi-arm studies. Four studies assessed within-group change (n = 368), and six assessed between-group change (n = 1,143). Findings indicate significant between-group improvements in resilience, self-esteem and social belonging when OAE was compared to no intervention, but no self-efficacy and overall wellbeing changes were observed. Studies were at high risk of bias, and the credibility of the presented evidence was very low. OAE may benefit adolescents’ interpersonal connectedness and psychological strengths, but we cannot be confident in effect estimates due to bias and low-quality evidence. As such, this study is significant in highlighting the need for more research rigour in OAE.
Down et al. (Fri,) studied this question.