Mental health challenges in older women: A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions

Yihan Zhang; Shengjie Di; Janisa Kabir; Francis Mungai Kaburu; Xue Yang; Abdulswabul Kudiza; Chaojun Tong; Ping Zhu; Mehak Intizar; Jianlin Jiang; Dean McDonnell; Barry L. Bentley; Ali Cheshmehzangi; Junaid Ahmad; Sabina Šegalo; Jing Bao Nie; Claudimar Pereira da Veiga; Yu Tao Xiang; Zhaohui Su

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906

Mental health challenges in older women: A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions

Yihan Zhang
, Shengjie Di
, Janisa Kabir
, Francis Mungai Kaburu
, Xue Yang
, Abdulswabul Kudiza
, Chaojun Tong
, Ping Zhu
, Mehak Intizar
, Jianlin Jiang
, Dean McDonnell
, Barry L. Bentley
, Ali Cheshmehzangi
, Junaid Ahmad
, Sabina Šegalo
, Jing Bao Nie^*
, Claudimar Pereira da Veiga^*
, Yu Tao Xiang^*
, Zhaohui Su^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publication › Review article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

BackgroundOlder women face disproportionate health challenges, exacerbated by multiple unprecedented challenges such as global aging, disease outbreaks, and geopolitical as well as technological upheavals. This study examines technology-based mental health interventions for this demographic, aiming to inform policy.MethodsA systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting older women's mental health post-COVID-19 was conducted using databases like Web of Science and PubMed, adhering to PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020194003).ResultsA total of 3463 articles were screened for eligibility, among which, 17 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The review results show that 17 RCTs were conducted in middle-income and high-income countries. Fifteen RCTs generated statistically significant outcomes and reported specific aspects of their interventions to improve the mental health of older women.ConclusionTechnology-based interventions show promise for improving older women's mental health. Policy recommendations include establishing comprehensive mental health centers, implementing universal healthcare, promoting digital literacy, and strengthening public awareness campaigns.

Original language	English
Article number	104906
Journal	Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume	118
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906
Publication status	Published - Apr 2026
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Free Keywords

Mental health
Older women
Policy recommendation
Systematic review
Technology-based interventions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906

Cite this

Zhang, Y., Di, S., Kabir, J., Kaburu, F. M., Yang, X., Kudiza, A., Tong, C., Zhu, P., Intizar, M., Jiang, J., McDonnell, D., Bentley, B. L., Cheshmehzangi, A., Ahmad, J., Šegalo, S., Nie, J. B., da Veiga, C. P., Xiang, Y. T., & Su, Z. (2026). Mental health challenges in older women: A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 118, Article 104906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906

@article{f43e67f5bbaf48379a583ed0067b8be9,

title = "Mental health challenges in older women: A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions",

abstract = "BackgroundOlder women face disproportionate health challenges, exacerbated by multiple unprecedented challenges such as global aging, disease outbreaks, and geopolitical as well as technological upheavals. This study examines technology-based mental health interventions for this demographic, aiming to inform policy.MethodsA systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting older women's mental health post-COVID-19 was conducted using databases like Web of Science and PubMed, adhering to PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020194003).ResultsA total of 3463 articles were screened for eligibility, among which, 17 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The review results show that 17 RCTs were conducted in middle-income and high-income countries. Fifteen RCTs generated statistically significant outcomes and reported specific aspects of their interventions to improve the mental health of older women.ConclusionTechnology-based interventions show promise for improving older women's mental health. Policy recommendations include establishing comprehensive mental health centers, implementing universal healthcare, promoting digital literacy, and strengthening public awareness campaigns.",

keywords = "Mental health, Older women, Policy recommendation, Systematic review, Technology-based interventions",

author = "Yihan Zhang and Shengjie Di and Janisa Kabir and Kaburu, \{Francis Mungai\} and Xue Yang and Abdulswabul Kudiza and Chaojun Tong and Ping Zhu and Mehak Intizar and Jianlin Jiang and Dean McDonnell and Bentley, \{Barry L.\} and Ali Cheshmehzangi and Junaid Ahmad and Sabina {\v S}egalo and Nie, \{Jing Bao\} and \{da Veiga\}, \{Claudimar Pereira\} and Xiang, \{Yu Tao\} and Zhaohui Su",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.",

year = "2026",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906",

language = "English",

volume = "118",

journal = "Asian Journal of Psychiatry",

issn = "1876-2018",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

Zhang, Y, Di, S, Kabir, J, Kaburu, FM, Yang, X, Kudiza, A, Tong, C, Zhu, P, Intizar, M, Jiang, J, McDonnell, D, Bentley, BL, Cheshmehzangi, A, Ahmad, J, Šegalo, S, Nie, JB, da Veiga, CP, Xiang, YT & Su, Z 2026, 'Mental health challenges in older women: A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions', Asian Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 118, 104906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mental health challenges in older women

T2 - A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions

AU - Zhang, Yihan

AU - Di, Shengjie

AU - Kabir, Janisa

AU - Kaburu, Francis Mungai

AU - Yang, Xue

AU - Kudiza, Abdulswabul

AU - Tong, Chaojun

AU - Zhu, Ping

AU - Intizar, Mehak

AU - Jiang, Jianlin

AU - McDonnell, Dean

AU - Bentley, Barry L.

AU - Cheshmehzangi, Ali

AU - Ahmad, Junaid

AU - Šegalo, Sabina

AU - Nie, Jing Bao

AU - da Veiga, Claudimar Pereira

AU - Xiang, Yu Tao

AU - Su, Zhaohui

PY - 2026/4

Y1 - 2026/4

N2 - BackgroundOlder women face disproportionate health challenges, exacerbated by multiple unprecedented challenges such as global aging, disease outbreaks, and geopolitical as well as technological upheavals. This study examines technology-based mental health interventions for this demographic, aiming to inform policy.MethodsA systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting older women's mental health post-COVID-19 was conducted using databases like Web of Science and PubMed, adhering to PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020194003).ResultsA total of 3463 articles were screened for eligibility, among which, 17 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The review results show that 17 RCTs were conducted in middle-income and high-income countries. Fifteen RCTs generated statistically significant outcomes and reported specific aspects of their interventions to improve the mental health of older women.ConclusionTechnology-based interventions show promise for improving older women's mental health. Policy recommendations include establishing comprehensive mental health centers, implementing universal healthcare, promoting digital literacy, and strengthening public awareness campaigns.

AB - BackgroundOlder women face disproportionate health challenges, exacerbated by multiple unprecedented challenges such as global aging, disease outbreaks, and geopolitical as well as technological upheavals. This study examines technology-based mental health interventions for this demographic, aiming to inform policy.MethodsA systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting older women's mental health post-COVID-19 was conducted using databases like Web of Science and PubMed, adhering to PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020194003).ResultsA total of 3463 articles were screened for eligibility, among which, 17 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The review results show that 17 RCTs were conducted in middle-income and high-income countries. Fifteen RCTs generated statistically significant outcomes and reported specific aspects of their interventions to improve the mental health of older women.ConclusionTechnology-based interventions show promise for improving older women's mental health. Policy recommendations include establishing comprehensive mental health centers, implementing universal healthcare, promoting digital literacy, and strengthening public awareness campaigns.

KW - Mental health

KW - Older women

KW - Policy recommendation

KW - Systematic review

KW - Technology-based interventions

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033512783

U2 - 10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906

DO - 10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906

M3 - Review article

C2 - 41775098

AN - SCOPUS:105033512783

SN - 1876-2018

VL - 118

JO - Asian Journal of Psychiatry

JF - Asian Journal of Psychiatry

M1 - 104906

ER -

Mental health challenges in older women: A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions

Abstract

UN SDGs

Free Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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