Abstract
Introduction:
The aging population has increased the demand for family caregivers, who often suffer from psychological distress, especially compassion fatigue. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the effectiveness of web-based compassion interventions in improving the mental well-being of family caregivers.
Methods:
MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Proquest were searched from database inception until manuscript submission date. Eligible studies included family caregivers participating in web-based compassionate interventions with reported mental wellness indicators, such as self-compassion. Two independent researchers conducted a literature review, extracted data, and assessed the quality of each study using the Risk of Bias 2 tool. Random effects meta-analysis was performed to pool the data, followed by subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses and Egger's tests.
Results:
Out of 1095 studies evaluated, eight randomized controlled trials (encompassing 1978 participants) were included, with 75% exhibiting low risk of bias and high-quality evidence. Meta-analysis results indicated positive effects of web-based compassion interventions on family caregivers' self-compassion (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.58, P = 0.009) and mindfulness (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.90, P = 0.04). These interventions also demonstrated a positive impact on reducing stress (SMD: -0.32, 95% CI -0.59 to -0.04, P = 0.02) and anxiety (SMD: -0.28, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.09, P = 0.003). Subgroup analyses highlighted superior self-compassion outcomes for caregivers supporting individuals with mental illness and cancer compared to those caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Interventions lasting ≥ 8 weeks were the most common and effective.
Conclusions:
Web-based compassion interventions benefit family caregivers by enhancing self-compassion, mindfulness, and reducing anxiety and stress. More well-designed studies are suggested for future clinical applications.