Evidence on interventions that promote the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker children and adolescents in transit: a scoping literature review

Abstract

IntroductionThe population of migrant, refuge, and asylum-seeking children and adolescents across the globe has increased in recent decades. These minors often undergo adverse experiences that negatively impact their mental health and psychosocial well-being (MHPWB). In light of the transient nature and multiple stressors inherent in the transit stage, this scoping review was conducted to characterize the evidence on interventions aimed at promoting the MHPWB of minors during their migration journey.MethodsFollowing the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we systematically searched the MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, APA PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases, as well as the Google Scholar search engine, for studies published between January 2010 and September 2025 that included the evaluation of some aspect of interventions aimed at promoting MHPWB in minors during transit, regardless of the language and location where the study was conducted. Systematic reviews of the literature were excluded. The data most relevant to answering the research questions were presented in tables and accompanied by a narrative synthesis.ResultsOf the 1,835 unique documents identified, 28 met the inclusion criteria. Most of the interventions had been implemented in refugee camps and were aimed at school-age children and adolescents who had been forcibly displaced, mainly from the Middle East. Most of the interventions combined different approaches, such as psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral therapy, and had a family or group approach. All interventions reported some degree of positive change on children's MHPWB. However, few studies considered at-risk subgroups, and no interventions targeted two of the main forcibly displaced populations at the time of the study, Venezuelans and South Sudanese.ConclusionsOur study effectively describes existing interventions aimed at promoting MHPWB for minors in transit and their effectiveness and/or implementation process, as well as identifies gaps in the current evidence and lessons learned that can help improve future interventions. Introducci & oacutenLa poblaci & oacuten de ni & ntildeos y adolescentes migrantes, refugiados y solicitantes de asilo ha aumentado en las & uacuteltimas d & eacutecadas a nivel global. A menudo, estos menores experimentan experiencias adversas que impactan negativamente sobre su salud mental y bienestar psicosocial (SMBP). Considerando la naturaleza transitoria y los m & uacuteltiples estresores inherentes a la etapa de tr & aacutensito, se realiz & oacutela presente revisi & oacuten de alcance para caracterizar la evidencia sobre las intervenciones orientadas a promover la SMBP de menores durante el viaje migratorio.M & eacutetodosSiguiendo las gu & iacuteas de PRISMA-ScR, buscamos de forma sistem & aacutetica en las bases de datos MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, APA PsycInfo y Web of Science, as & iacutecomo en el motor de b & uacutesqueda Google Scholar, estudios publicados entre enero de 2010 y septiembre de 2025 que incluyeran la evaluaci & oacuten de alg & uacuten aspecto de las intervenciones destinadas a promover la SMBP de los menores durante el tr & aacutensito, independientemente del idioma y lugar donde se hubiera realizado el estudio. Se excluyeron revisiones sistem & aacuteticas de la literatura. Los datos m & aacutes relevantes para responder a las preguntas de investigaci & oacuten fueron presentados en tablas y se acompa & ntildearon de una s & iacutentesis narrativa.ResultadosDe los 1835 documentos & uacutenicos identificados, 28 cumplieron con los requisitos de inclusi & oacuten. La mayor & iacutea de las intervenciones hab & iacutean sido implementadas en campos de refugiados y estaban dirigidas a menores en edad escolar y adolescentes desplazados forzados, principalmente originarios de Oriente Medio. La mayor & iacutea de las intervenciones combinaban diferentes abordajes, como la psicoeducaci & oacuten y la terapia cognitive-conductual, y ten & iacutean un abordaje familiar o grupal. Todas las intervenciones reportaron alg & uacuten nivel de cambio positivo sobre la SMBP de los menores. Sin embargo, fueron pocos los estudios que consideraran a subgrupos en riesgo, as & iacutecomo no se identificaron intervenciones orientadas a dos de las principales poblaciones desplazadas forzosas en el per & iacuteodo de estudio, la venezolana y sudsudanesa.ConclusionesNuestro estudio logra de forma efectiva describir las intervenciones existentes destinadas a promover la SMBP de menores en tr & aacutensito y su efectividad y/o proceso de implementaci & oacuten, as & iacutecomo identificar brechas en la evidencia actual y aprendizajes que pueden ayudar a mejorar futuras intervenciones.