Psychosocial interventions for mental health and resilience in disadvantaged urban communities: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Urban residents experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage face disproportionately high risks of mental health problems and reduced resilience due to chronic stressors, resource scarcity, and structural inequities. Psychosocial interventions are increasingly used to address these challenges; however, evidence regarding their effectiveness in disadvantaged urban settings remains fragmented. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in improving mental health outcomes (including anxiety, depression, and psychological distress), resilience, and well-being among individuals living in socioeconomically disadvantaged urban communities. A comprehensive search of five major databases identified peer-reviewed studies published between January 2020 and June 2026. Risk of bias was assessed using established tools, and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, psychosocial interventions produced a small but significant improvement in mental health outcomes and significantly improved resilience and well-being. Separate analyses demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety and psychological distress, whereas the pooled effect for depression was not statistically significant. Subgroup analyses suggested larger effects for medium-duration (5–8 weeks) and positive-oriented interventions, while findings for delivery mode and intervention format should be interpreted cautiously because of substantial heterogeneity. No evidence of publication bias was detected. These findings support psychosocial interventions as effective strategies for improving psychological outcomes in disadvantaged urban communities. Future research should evaluate long-term effectiveness, implementation strategies, cost-effectiveness, and culturally responsive adaptations to strengthen scalability and promote equitable access to mental health care.