Supporting Children of Parents with Mood Disorders, Anxiety or Substance Use Problems: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Psychosocial Interventions

Psychosocial interventions for children of parents with mood disorders, anxiety and/or alcohol and substance use problems may reduce their vulnerability to negative developmental outcomes and strengthen their resilience. However, existing studies vary in quality, making it difficult to identify best practices. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies evaluating psychosocial interventions for children (aged 0–18) of parents with mood disorders/anxiety and/or alcohol/substance use problems. A total of 34 studies, involving 3205 children (51.7% female), identified through PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus, met the inclusion criteria. Results showed that these interventions are effective in reducing internalizing symptoms both in the short ( g = − 0.25) and long term ( g = − 0.21), and in decreasing externalizing symptoms in the short term ( g = − 0.16). However, there was insufficient evidence for significant effects on theoretical mechanisms such as family related factors or children’s coping skills. Furthermore, program effectiveness did not differ based on the type of intervention or its underlying theoretical framework. These findings support the general efficacy of psychosocial interventions in improving mental health outcomes in at-risk children, regardless of program type or approach.