Effectiveness of Interventions for Interpersonal Functioning Among Adolescents With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

A Meta‐Analysis

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21444641
AutoresSabrina Ee-Ying Ong (University of Southern Queensland, autor de correspondencia), Sabrina Ee‐Ying Ong (0009-0000-6285-3541, School of Psychology and Wellbeing University of Southern Queensland Ipswich Queensland Australia), Sayedhabibollah Ahmadi Forooshani (0000-0003-2998-6523, Adelaide University Online Adelaide University Adelaide South Australia Australia), Zahra Izadikhah (0000-0002-5726-0933, School of Psychology and Wellbeing University of Southern Queensland Ipswich Queensland Australia), Govind Krishnamoorthy (0000-0003-1515-1103, School of Psychology and Wellbeing University of Southern Queensland Ipswich Queensland Australia)
Año2026
Fecha de publicación2026-06-15
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0140-1971 • E-ISSN: 1095-9254
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/jad.70197
PMID42290301
OpenAlexW7164811758
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas83

INTRODUCTION: Adolescents with posttraumatic stress symptoms often experience interpersonal difficulties; however, the effectiveness of existing interventions in improving interpersonal functioning remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of current interventions on interpersonal functioning among adolescents with posttraumatic stress symptoms. METHODS: A systematic search identified 17 studies comprising 35 therapeutic effect sizes that met the inclusion criteria. Effect sizes were synthesised using meta-analytic procedures, and potential moderators, including intervention type, mode, and number of sessions, were examined. RESULTS: The aggregated post-intervention effect size was small but statistically significant (g = 0.39, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.28, 0.49]). Intervention type and mode significantly moderated outcomes. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) demonstrated the largest effect size, while mixed intervention formats involving both individual and conjoint or group sessions showed greater efficacy than group-only approaches. At the 3-month follow-up, based on six effect measurements, the aggregated effect size was medium (g = 0.54, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.28, 0.81]). Although the number of sessions did not significantly moderate post-intervention outcomes, interventions with more sessions were associated with stronger follow-up effects. CONCLUSIONS: Current interventions demonstrate small post-intervention and medium follow-up effects on interpersonal functioning. However, the findings highlight a lack of robust and consistent evidence regarding the adequacy and long-term effectiveness of existing interventions. Further high-quality research is needed to examine interventions that directly target trauma-related mechanisms influencing interpersonal functioning and to rigorously evaluate their long-term effectiveness among adolescents with posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Cognition · Interpersonal communication · Interpersonal relationship · Intervention (counseling) · Posttraumatic stress · Psychological intervention · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research