Effectiveness of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (dCBT) in Reducing Anxiety and Depression Among Young Adults: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are common in young adults and often go untreated because of barriers like stigma, cost, and restricted access to mental health services. Digital cognitive behavior therapy (dCBT) has recently emerged as a more efficient and economical substitute for face-to-face psychotherapy. This meta-analytic study evaluated critical determinants of treatment efficacy, including guidance level and treatment duration, while examining the efficacy of dCBT in relieving depression and anxiety in young adults aged 18–35. A comprehensive search was conducted using Google, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed to identify randomized controlled trials published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 38 studies with 12,450 individuals fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Hedges’g was employed to find out the effect sizes. They were subsequently aggregated with random effects models. To assess between-study heterogeneity, the I² statistic was used.  Moderator analyses looked at the type of guidance (unguided vs. guided) and the length of the intervention (≥8 weeks vs. <8 weeks). Publication bias was examined using funnel plots and Egger's regression test, and the robustness of the findings was assessed using sensitivity analyses. dCBT has shown substantial moderate-to-large effects for anxiety (g = 0.68, 95% CI [0.59, 0.77], I² = 56%) and depression (g = 0.74, 95% CI [0.65, 0.83], I² = 63%). Guided interventions produced greater impacts (g = 0.82) compared to unguided programs (g = 0.55). Extended interventions yielded more robust outcomes (g = 0.79) compared to abbreviated programs (g = 0.58). There was no discernible publishing bias. When supervised and administered over extended periods of time, dCBT is a scalable and successful strategy for lowering anxiety and depression in young adults. These findings lend support to guided dCBT's application in digital mental health policy and treatment.