SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Clin. Diabetes Healthc.
Sec. Diabetes Self-Management
This article is part of the Research TopicTheory-Based E-Mental Health Interventions for Improving the Mental and Physical Health of People with DiabetesView all 4 articles
Evaluating the Impact of eHealth Interventions on Adolescents with Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Provisionally accepted
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, School of Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
Select one of your emails
You have multiple emails registered with Frontiers:
Notify me on publication
Please enter your email address:
If you already have an account, please login
You don't have a Frontiers account ? You can register here
Adolescence is marked by significant changes. The presence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1D and T2D) amplifies these challenges, with diabetes being the second most common chronic disease among adolescents worldwide. Adolescents with diabetes are at heightened risk for mental health issues, which escalate the risk of complications. eHealth interventions using Information and Communication Technologies show promise in improving diabetes management and psychological well-being. However, research has predominantly focused on adults, leaving gaps in understanding the efficacy of these interventions for adolescents. Medical management often prioritizes physical health, neglecting psychosocial aspects. This meta-analysis aims to provide evidence on eHealth interventions' efficacy in supporting the psychosocial well-being of adolescents with T1D and T2D, and to investigate their impact on Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), quality of life, diabetes distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. A PRISMA-guided systematic search was conducted. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) regarding eHealth interventions for adolescents with diabetes were included. Data were pooled using Standard Mean Difference (SMD). Outcomes were quality of life and HbA1c. Intervention acceptability was assessed using the Odds Ratio (OR) of dropout rates. A total of ten RCTs involving only adolescents with T1D (aged 10-22) were included in the analysis. The interventions resulted in significant improvements in quality of life (SMD = 0.73; 95% CI [0.08, 1.38]; k = 6), indicating a moderate positive effect, as well as in satisfaction with life, a subscale of the overall quality of life (SMD = 0.51, 95% CI [0.08, 0.95]; k = 3). For HbA1c levels, however, the effect was small and not statistically significant (SMD = -0.21; 95% CI [-0.69, 0.27]; k = 8). Additionally, the interventions were well accepted, as suggested by the odds ratio (OR) of 0.47 (95% CI [-0.07, 1.01]; k = 7), indicating no significant difference in dropout rates between intervention and control groups. These results underscore the potential of eHealth interventions to enhance the quality of life and satisfaction with life in adolescents with T1D. Future research should continue to explore and refine eHealth interventions, ensuring an integrated approach that addresses both the medical and psychosocial needs of adolescents with diabetes.
Keywords: adolescents, Diabetes Mellitus, Quality of Life, HbA1c, eHealth, Meta-analysis
Received: 03 Jul 2025; Accepted: 29 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Spaggiari, Bassi, Salcuni and Di Riso. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Giulia Bassi, giulia.bassi@unipd.it
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.