Abstract

Background: Due to traumatic experiences resulting from the loss of early attachment and of course social rejection and isolation, orphaned and maltreated children and adolescents are susceptible to numerous psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, and rumination; accordingly, it is essential to investigate effective and efficient psychological interventions to improve mental health and reduce psychological distress in these children and adolescents.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to systematically investigate the effectiveness of psychological interventions on orphaned and maltreated Iranian children and adolescents.

Method: The present study was a systematic review. In this study, 20 Persian articles from the SID, Google Scholar, Magiran, and Ensani databases were reviewed between April 1400 and April 1405 by searching for the keywords "maltreated children, unsupervised children, maltreated adolescents, unsupervised adolescents, children, adolescents, maltreated students, unsupervised students, effectiveness, intervention, education, impact, program, interventions, mental health". The articles were selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria and entered into a systematic review. Findings: Based on the results, the interventions under review were classified into five categories: Mindfulness and compassion-based interventions (6 studies) that were effective in improving emotion control, frustration tolerance, and psychological capital; Cognitive-behavioral interventions (5 studies) that were effective in reducing depression, isolation, and improving self-esteem; Art-play-based interventions (2 studies) that were effective in reducing internalized problems and improving distress tolerance; Positive and empowering interventions (6 studies) were effective in increasing happiness, emotional independence, and improving outlook on life; and humanistic-existential interventions (4 studies) were found to be effective in improving general health, responsibility, and reducing impulsivity. The durability of the effects of some interventions has also been reported at 45-day and 2-month follow-ups.

Conclusion: Various psychological interventions, including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, artistic, positive, and humanistic-existential approaches, have been effective in improving the psychological well-being of homeless and maltreated children and adolescents. It is suggested that designers of intervention programs in quasi-family centers use a combination of these approaches based on the needs of the clients.