Parental Involvement in Intervention for Early Adolescent Anxiety and Depression – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Early adolescence is a key period for intervention in anxiety and depressive disorders given their increasing prevalence at this age. While parents remain key supports in early adolescence, research into their involvement in interventions is limited for this age group. This study reviewed parental involvement in intervention for anxiety and depression in early adolescence. Databases including PsycINFO, Medline, and Scopus were searched for relevant studies up to February 2026. Studies were screened, and data extraction and bias assessment were independently conducted. From 7382 records, 52 studies were included in the review, with 13 included in a meta-analysis. Comparing parent-involved to child-focused interventions in 10- to 14-year-olds showed no consistent difference in outcomes (SMD = 0.07, 95% CI = −0.16, 0.29). Results were limited by study quality and the predominance of studies on CBT for anxiety, mostly involving White female parents. Consistent with findings for other age groups, further research is needed to improve guidance on parent-involved care for early adolescent mental health difficulties.