School-Based Interventions Effective in Reducing Mental Health Symptoms in Children and Adolescents After Natural Disasters

Strategic Insights -

In a recent study, researchers from Taipei Medical University conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of school-based randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, and anxiety in children and adolescents after natural disasters. The study, published in the journal Child and Adolescent Mental Health, found that school-based interventions showed significantly large effects on PTSD symptoms, significant small effects on depression, and a significantly large immediate effect on anxiety.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 13 RCTs with 2418 participants, aged 6-18 years.
  • School-based interventions showed significant effects on PTSD symptoms (g = -1.203, 95% CI = -2.202 to -0.203), depression (g = -0.337, CI = -0.673 to -0.001), and anxiety (g = -4.602, CI = -8.807 to 0.396).
  • Moderator variables, including intervention approach, control group type, and intervention protocol, significantly influenced immediate PTSD outcomes.
  • School-based interventions are effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety in children and adolescents following natural disasters.
  • The intervention format and implementation context matter.
  • Future research should strengthen the evidence base for depression and anxiety outcomes and assess long-term effectiveness and scalability.
  • Authors from Taipei Medical University, including Pi-Chen Chang, Okki Dhona Laksmita, Min-Huey Chung, Joseph Kondwani Banda, Yann-Yann Shieh, Sumarni Djaka Waluya, and Sri Warsini, contributed to the study.

Statistics:

  • 2418 participants were included in the 13 RCTs.
  • School-based interventions showed significantly large effects on PTSD symptoms after the intervention (g = -1.203).
  • Depression showed a significant small effect after the intervention (g = -0.337).
  • Anxiety showed a significantly large immediate effect after the intervention (g = -4.602).
  • 13 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis.
  • The number of participants in the included studies ranged from 65 to 1815.
  • The total number of participants in the study was 2418.

Sources:

  • Review: School-based Interventions for Child and Adolescent Survivors of Natural Disasters - a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2025.
  • Taipei Medical University.
  • NewsRx LLC. Studies from Taipei Medical University Have Provided New Information about Anxiety Disorders (Review: School-based Interventions for Child and Adolescent Survivors of Natural Disasters - a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized ...). Pediatrics Week. October 18, 2025; p 1119.