Defining young people’s mental health self-care: a systematic review and co-development approach
- Open Access
- 10.11.2023
- Review
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Eligibility criteria
Search strategy
Screening and selection
Analytic strategy
Patient and Public Involvement workshop
Results
Study characteristics
References | Country | Publication type | Population | Age | Study aim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akbarbegloo [30] | Iran | Primary research | Off-therapy childhood cancer survivors | Mean = 13.8 years (SD = 2.57) | To explore self-care needs of off-therapy childhood cancer survivors |
Ashcraft [31] | USA | Primary research | Undergraduate nursing students | Mean = 23.5 years (SD = NR) | To understand self-care behaviors and perceptions following a self-care promotion intervention |
Auttama [32] | Thailand | Primary research | University students | Median = 20 years (IQR = 1) | To investigate factors associated with self-esteem, resilience, mental health and psychological self-care |
Ayala [33] | USA | Primary research | Medical students | Mean = 25.42 years (SD = 2.27) | To identify domains of health promotion and self-care attitudes of medical students |
Aydin [34] | Turkey | Primary research | Mental health university students | Mean = 20.31 years (SD = 1.45) | To investigate the role of mindful self-care in predicting wellbeing |
Baker [35] | USA | Primary research | Students of a human rights university program | Average = 23.4 years | To explore secondary trauma mitigation techniques, including self-care |
Ball [36] | USA | Primary research | First year medical students | Average = 24.02 years (SD = 3.42) | To examine (1) health habits and (2) self-awareness and self-care interventions for health and emotional adjustment |
Beaumont [37] | UK | Discussion paper | Undergraduate midwifery students | N/A | To investigate an intervention (which included self-care) to increase self-compassion and reduce self-criticism |
Bender [38] | USA | Primary research | Undergraduate students | NR | To explore the relationships between attachment, resilience, self-efficacy and self-care |
Betz [39] | USA | Primary research | Youth with spina bifida | Mean = 16.19 years (SD = 1.33) | To test a cognitive-behavioral program combined with spina bifida management on subjective wellbeing, role mastery and self-care |
Brodsky [40] | USA | Primary research | First year medical students | NR | To evaluate an elective course involving the creation of a self-care plan |
Brown [41] | USA | Discussion paper | Undergraduate medical students | N/A | To advocate for trauma-informed medical education, including trauma-informed self-care skills |
Canty-Mitchell [42] | USA | Primary research | Inner-city adolescents | Mean = 15.92 years (SD = 1.29) | To explore the relationships between hope, life change events and self-care among inner-city adolescents |
Chan [43] | Hong Kong | Primary research | Undergraduate counseling trainees | Range = 18–23 years | To investigate the impact of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program (which included self-care) |
Clements [44] | USA | Primary research | Undergraduate social work students | Mean = 22.7 years (SD = NR) | To present a teaching approach with mutual aid-based stress-management groups, which included self-care skills |
Crary [45] | USA | Primary research | Undergraduate nursing students | 79% 20–24 years | To explore experiences of stress, coping, self-compassion, physical and emotional health and self-care |
Cummins [46] | Australia | Primary research | First year undergraduate midwifery students | NR | To evaluate workshops designed to help student midwives discuss sensitive topics and develop self-care tools |
Docherty-Skippen [47] | Canada | Primary research | Undergraduate nursing students | NR | To explore strategies used to teach self-care to nursing students |
Drolet [48] | Canada | Discussion paper | Undergraduate social work students | N/A | To discuss teaching strategies to support wellness and self-care |
Emery [49] | UK | Discussion paper | Undergraduate nursing students | N/A | To discuss coping strategies to nurture mental and physical wellbeing, including self-care strategies |
Feng [50] | USA | Primary research | Young adult students | Mean = 23.5 years (SD = 4.8) | To explore the relationships between mindful self-care, perceived stress and quality of life |
Fiodorova [51] | Canada | Primary research | Undergraduate psychology students | Mean = 18 years (SD = 1.08) | To investigate the impact of self-care on wellbeing |
Florang [52] | USA | Discussion paper | Adolescents experiencing cyberbullying | N/A | To discuss self-care deficit theory as a framework to support adolescent victims of cyberbullying |
Friedman [53] | USA | Discussion paper | Undergraduate students | N/A | To describe the implementation of a Mental Health Task Force, including undergraduate staff self-care training |
Gordon [54] | Kosovo | Primary research | Secondary school students with PTSD symptoms | Mean = 16.3 years (SD = NR) | To investigate an intervention (including self-care) to improve symptoms of PTSD |
Greene [55] | USA | Primary research | Undergraduate students | NR | To explore the impact of a mindfulness-based stress reduction course (including self-care) |
Greeson [56] | USA | Primary research | Medical students | 84% Years 1–3 | To evaluate workshops covering self-care, mind–body medicine and mindfulness |
Hassed [57] | Australia | Primary research | Undergraduate medical students | Mean = 18.77 years (SD = 1.1) | To test the impact of a Health Enhancement Program (including self-care strategies) on psychological distress and quality of life |
Hensel [58] | USA | Primary research | Second year nursing students | NR | To explore the impact of an art therapy class to teach self-care and self-awareness |
Hensel [59] | USA | Primary research | Undergraduate nursing students | Mean = 20.4 years (SD = 1.05) | To explore the relationship between self-care and stress during the development of a professional identity |
Hofmeyer [60] | Australia | Primary research | Final year undergraduate nursing students | NR | To investigate the impact of a compassion module (including self-care) on compassion |
Hosek [61] | USA | Clinical Trial registration | Youth newly diagnosed with HIV | Range = 16–24 years | To describe an HIV intervention (including self-care) to improve psychosocial adjustment of newly diagnosed youth |
Ingram [22] | Canada | Primary research | Third year undergraduates | NR | To explore student perceptions of learning about mindfulness and self-care to improve wellbeing |
Javed [62] | Pakistan | Primary research | Undergraduate nursing students | 89.47% 16–25 years | To investigate the self-care habits of nursing students |
Kao [63] | USA | Primary research | Pregnant women receiving public assistance | Mean = 22.4 years (SD = 4.4) | To investigate the impact of a psychoeducational intervention (including self-care) |
Kearns [64] | UK | Primary research | Second year undergraduate teaching students | NR | To explore the impact of a course addressing attachment and how attachment related to student self-care |
Kennison [65] | USA | Primary research | First year undergraduate students | Median = 19 years (IQR = NR) | To investigate the impact of an expressive writing intervention on self-care for stressful or traumatic experiences |
Kirby [66] | UK | Primary research | Secondary school children | Mean = 12.4 years (SD = 0.7) | To test the impact of the Hopeful Minds program on hope, depression, anxiety, resilience, emotion regulation and coping (including self-care) |
Kislyakov [67] | Russia | Primary research | University students | Mean = 20 years (SD = NR) | To investigate prosocial behavior strategies (including self-care) during COVID-19 |
Kongsuwan [68] | Thailand | Primary research | High school students showing moderate to high aggression | Mean = 13.44 years (SD = NR) | To evaluate the effectiveness of a violence prevention program involving self-care practices |
Kramer [69] | USA | Discussion paper | Undergraduate nursing students | N/A | To describe a complementary and alternative medicine course as a means of self-care |
Krasniqi [70] | USA and Canada | Primary research | Dental hygiene students | Mean = 25.3 years (SD = 6.6) | To explore self-care practices and their relationship with work hours and caregiver responsibilities |
Lattie [71] | USA | Primary research | University students | Mean = 24.19 years (SD = 6.03) | To pilot a mental health app for university students (which included self-care) |
Maddah [72] | Lebanon | Primary research | University students—low to medium socio-economic background | Mean = 21.01 (SD = 6.08; control) and 20.88 years (SD = 7.16; skills group) | To test the impact of a life skills-based intervention (including self-care) on BMI and mental health |
Martin [73] | USA | Primary research | University seniors | NR | To investigate self-care practices to manage stress |
Martorell-Poveda [20] | Spain | Primary research | Young people (depression diagnosis, distress and control groups) | Range = 17–21 years | To explore self-care strategies among young people to cope with distress |
Mason [74] | USA | Primary research | First generation medical students | Mean = 25.64 years (SD = 3.29) | To compare levels of stress, self-care and quality of life between first and continuing generation medical students |
McAllister [75] | Australia | Primary research | School nurses | N/A | To explore the need for and feasibility of a program for school nurses to support self-care among 13–14 year olds in order to prevent self-harm |
McAllister [76] | Australia | Primary research | School mental health promotion program facilitators | N/A | To explore a training for school mental health promotion program facilitators which included supporting young people to develop self-care strategies |
McAllister [77] | Australia | Discussion paper | Young people | 12–13 years | To discuss the theory behind a program to improve young people’s self-care, sense of belonging, empathy and resilience |
McGuinness [78] | Canada | Primary research | First year undergraduate students | Mean = 18 years (SD = 0.58) | To explore the impact of mindful self-care on flourishing |
Meichenbaum [79] | USA | Chapter | LGBTQ Youth | N/A | To discuss resilience strategies among LGBTQ youth, including self-care |
Moffett [80] | UK | Primary research | Undergraduate veterinary students | Mean = 19.8 years (SD = 2.8) | To explore the impact on resilience of a teaching intervention based on self-care |
Moore [81] | Australia | Clinical Trial registration | Secondary school children | Range 11–14 years | To describe a martial arts training program (including self-care) for mental health |
Moore [82] | USA | Primary research | Music therapy students | Mean = 23.44 years (SD = 6.66) | To investigate stress levels and self-care practices of music therapy students |
Moore [83] | USA | Primary research | Undergraduate nursing students | NR | To explore the impact of a mental health nursing class (including self-care) presenting methods of stress reduction |
Mosca [84] | USA | Primary research | Pre-health students | Mean = 24.4 years (SD = 4) | To explore self-care mechanisms and stress coping strategies for pre-health students |
Moses [85] | Australia | Primary research | Undergraduate students | Mean = 20.87 years (SD = 3.31) | To investigate relationships between physical, cognitive and social self-care practices and psychological wellbeing |
Muzik [86] | USA | Primary research | High-risk mothers | Mean = 23.7 years (SD = 5.3) | To explore the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention (including self-care) for high-risk mothers |
Muzik [87] | USA | Primary research | At-risk mothers of young children | Mean = 23.71 years (SD = 6.14) | To explore treatment engagement during an intervention (including self-care) for at-risk mothers |
Nafiseh [24] | Iran | Primary research | Adolescents | Range = 14–20 years | To describe spiritual self-care among Iranian adolescents |
Nash [88] | USA | Primary research | Middle school students | Mean = 12.8 years (SD = NR) | To investigate the impact of a peer education and support group program on self-care resources |
Newcomb [23] | Australia | Primary research | Undergraduate social work and human services students | Median = 23.5 years (IQR = NR) | To understand how students with adverse childhood experiences learn about self-care |
Ng [89] | Hong Kong | Primary research | Final year university students | Range = 18–25 years | To explore a body-mind-spirit intervention (including self-care) which aimed to promote holistic wellbeing |
Ng [90] | Hong Kong | Primary research | First year university students | Mean = 21.4 (SD = 2; control) and 22.6 years (SD = 3.3; BMS group) | To test the impact of a body–mind–spirit intervention (including self-care) on holistic wellbeing |
O'Brien [91] | USA | Primary research | Sexual minority adolescents | Mean = 17.53 years (SD = 1.02) | To understand self-care practices among sexual minority adolescents during COVID-19 |
Otsuka-Ono [92] | Japan | Primary research | Female high school students | Mean = 16.5 years (SD = NR) | To identify self-care strategies for premenstrual distress |
Pakenham [93] | Australia | Primary research | Third year psychology students | Mean = 23.15 years (SD = 6.76) | To evaluate a personal practice-informed psychotherapy curriculum, including impacts on self-care |
Pryjmachuk [94] | UK | Secondary research | Children and young people | 63% included studies 11–25 years | To investigate empirical studies on mental health self-care support |
Rababah [95] | Jordan | Primary research | Undergraduate nursing students | Average = 21.5 years (SD = 2.24) | To examine the relationships between mindfulness and health promotion |
Redwood [96] | USA | Primary research | First year medical students | NR | To evaluate a stress-management program (including self-care) for first year medical students |
Risdon [97] | Canada | Chapter | Early year medical students | N/A | To describe a curriculum (including self-care) aiming to improve resilience |
Roy [98] | UK | Primary research | First year medical and nursing students | NR | To evaluate the delivery of a wellbeing workshop, including self-care |
Rusch [99] | USA | Primary research | School mental health staff | N/A | To explore school student mental health care needs, including self-care |
Sarkhani [100] | Iran | Clinical Trial registration | Adolescent girls | Range = 12–15 years | To describe a self-care intervention aiming to support health promotion |
Schmidt [101] | UK | Primary research | Adolescents with bulimia nervosa or eating disorder not otherwise specified | Mean = 17.9 (SD = 1.6; family therapy) and 17.4 years (SD = 1.8; guided self-care) | To investigate the impact of family therapy and CBT guided self-care among adolescents with bulimia nervosa or eating disorder not otherwise specified |
Schmidt [102] | UK | Primary research | Adolescents with bulimia nervosa or eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) | Mean = 17.7 (SD = 1.7; bulimia nervosa) and 17.4 years (SD = 1.7; EDNOS) | To explore whether adolescents with bulimia nervosa differed from those with EDNOS on eating disorder or outcome characteristics (between family therapy and CBT guided self-care) |
Sharif Nia [103] | Iran | Primary research | Medical and related subjects students | Mean = 21.02 years (SD = 2.014) | To explore the relationship between religious coping and self-care behaviors |
Slemon [19] | Canada | Secondary research | Nursing students | 85% undergraduate student studies | To investigate how the concept of self-care has been used in the nursing education literature |
Slonim [104] | Australia | Primary research | Medical students | Mean = 21.82 years (SD = 3.62) | To examine relationships between self-care behaviors, mindfulness and distress |
Snyder [105] | USA | Primary research | Undergraduate nursing students | NR | To explore the impact of teaching positive coping skills and self-care strategies |
Stanfield [106] | USA | Primary research | Camp counselors | Average = 20.33 years (SD = 2.35) | To examine the impact of self-care activities, self-compassion, stress, values activities and burnout on compassion satisfaction |
Thomas [107] | USA | Primary research | First year medical students | NR | To evaluate a pilot self-care program for first year medical students |
Town [108] | UK | Scoping review protocol | Adolescents | N/A | To investigate the concepts of self-management, self-care and self-help for adolescents with emotional problems |
Tuong [109] | Vietnam | Primary research | Adolescents | Mean = 14.63 years (SD = 1.08) | To explore care-competencies including receiving care, self-care and extending care and their relationship with wellbeing |
Ul Huda [110] | Pakistan | Primary research | Adolescent boys | NR | To examine adolescent boys’ perceptions and practices of self-care during puberty |
Valizadeh [111] | Iran | Primary research | Adolescent cancer survivors | Mean = 15 years (SD = 2.51) | To explore perceptions of self-care needs among adolescent cancer survivors |
Yanaz [112] | Turkey | Primary research | Children with cystic fibrosis and healthy peers | Mean = 11.53 (SD = 2.86; cystic fibrosis) and 11.76 years (SD = 3.15; control) | To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on family environment, self-care practices, peer relations, psychological health and coping |
Zarimoghadam [113] | Iran | Primary research | Students referred to school counseling | NR | To investigate the impact of mental health self-care education on mental health and academic motivation |
Zurbriggen [114] | USA | Discussion paper | Undergraduate university students | N/A | To discuss secondary and vicarious traumatization when teaching courses about trauma, including strategies to mitigate these risks (e.g., self-care) |
Part 1: Conceptualizations of self-care in the academic literature
Reference cited | k | Definition |
|---|---|---|
5 | “The practice of activities that individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf in maintaining life, health and well-being” [13] | |
4 | “Self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, and maintain health and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider” [14] | |
3 | “Mindful self-care is seen as the active practice of behaviors that facilitate and maintain attunement and balance among the internal aspects of self and the external aspects of self” [122] | |
Pender et al. [125] | 2 | “Individual responsibility to promote one’s health and well-being” [125] |
Myers et al. [126] | 2 | “Self-care practice may be defined as engagement in behaviors that maintain and promote physical and emotional wellbeing and may include factors such as sleep, exercise, use of social support, emotion regulation strategies, and mindfulness practice” [126] |
2 | “Self-care is often defined and measured by different activities and domains that promote wellbeing. Domains may include physical, emotional, psychological, leisure, spiritual (i.e., personal self-care strategies), and professional activities” [127] | |
Newell and Nelson-Gardell [129] | 2 | “Professional self-care can be defined as the utilization of skills and strategies by social workers to maintain their own personal, familial, emotional, and spiritual needs while attending to the needs and demands of their clients” [129] |
Measurement of self-care
Conceptualization of self-care across definitions and measures
Part 2: Defining self-care with young people
Patient and Public Involvement workshop
Completely irrelevant | Slightly irrelevant | Slightly relevant | Completely relevant |
|---|---|---|---|
Empowerment | Health promotion | Psychoeducation | Self-compassion |
Recovery | Help-seeking | Sleep hygiene | Monitoring wellbeing |
Coping | Purpose | Supportive structures | Self-awareness |
Self-improvement | Caring relationships | Managing illness | Balance |
Life skills | Maintaining wellbeing | Maintaining health | Improving life satisfaction |
Religious activities | Monitoring health | Relaxation | Personal care (e.g., personal hygiene) |
Preventing illness | Resilience | Meeting mental health needs | |
Wellness promotion | Entertainment activities (e.g., reading, watching TV) | ||
Managing stress | |||
Healthy lifestyle activities (e.g., exercise, healthy eating) | |||
Meeting general needs |
A continuous, individual process that uses specific strategies guided by self-awareness to meet mental health needs. Self-care will be unique to each person, involving a self-compassionate approach to find emotional balance and develop positive strategies to promote mental health and wellbeing.