The Application of Intersectionality in Mental Health Interventions Among Adolescents and Young People: A Systematic Review

Background and Purpose: Adolescents and young people are disproportionately at risk for poor mental health due to their complex and intersecting social identities. Intersectionality framework has been introduced to comprehend their unique experiences of mental health inequities, based on principles that are likely to challenge and modify the power relations. Despite the increasing use of intersectionality in statistical modeling and research across disciplines, the extent to which it has been incorporated into mental health interventions remains underexplored. This study aims to examine how previous research addressing adolescent mental health has incorporated intersectionality in their design and execution.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted by searching eight databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, ERIC, PsycINFO, ProQuest, Embase, and Scopus). Eligibility criteria included (1) reported on a mental health intervention program and focused on mental health outcomes, (2) conducted among adolescents and young people aged 10-19, (3) published in English and peer-reviewed journals, and (4) employed intersectionality as a lens/guiding framework in the design, implementation, and evaluation stages of the intervention. All studies were screened independently, and relevant data were synthesized following PRISMA guidelines. The QualSyst tool was employed to assess the quality of the included studies. The Intersectionality-based Checklist was applied to evaluate how mental health intervention programs incorporated intersectionality principles in the different stages.

Results: A total of 3707 studies were identified, with 11 meeting the eligibility criteria, and were included in the final review and data extraction. The Intersectionality-based analysis revealed that approximately 71.3% of positive responses indicated that these studies incorporated the principles of intersectionality during the “Problem identification” stage, while 69.1% and 55.6% of positive responses indicated their incorporation at the “design and implementation” and “evaluation” stages, respectively. The most frequently considered intersectionality principles included “intersecting categories,” “power,” and “time and space,” especially during the “problem identification” and “design and implementation” stages. The principle of “multilevel analysis” received comparatively less attention. Additionally, there was insufficient clarity regarding the integration of certain core principles, such as “reflexivity” and “social justice and equity.”

Conclusions and Implications: This review offers a comprehensive overview of mental health interventions for adolescents and young people, with a particular emphasis on how intersectionality informs the development of services and future research agendas. Key elements critical to the successful implementation of interventions were identified, including community-based participatory research, the creation of inclusive and non-judgmental spaces, and the development of intersectional identities and social skills. The review highlights a significant gap in addressing intersectionality within current interventions and calls for greater engagement with intersectionality in clinical practice and evaluation.