Volume 16, Issue 4 (Jul & Aug 2026)
J Research Health 2026, 16(4): 321-332 |
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Kashani M, Sadeghi R, Kamani M. Health and Media Literacy for Psychological Resilience During Military Conflicts: A Systematic Review. J Research Health 2026; 16 (4) :321-332
URL: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-2894-en.html
URL: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-2894-en.html
1- Student Research Committee, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran.
2- Student Research Committee, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran. ,MehranKamany@yahoo.com
2- Student Research Committee, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran. ,
Abstract: (724 Views)
Background: Mental health is a major public health concern in war-affected populations, where misinformation and limited literacy exacerbate anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Health and media literacy empower individuals to identify credible information and strengthen psychological resilience. Therefore, understanding their combined influence has become increasingly important. This systematic review synthesizes the current evidence on the relationship between health, media literacy, and mental health outcomes in conflict settings, highlighting how their interaction contributes to psychological resilience.
Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses 2020 guidelines, this review examined studies exploring the association between health or media literacy and mental health outcomes in war-affected populations. Studies focusing solely on COVID-19–related distress were excluded. Peer-reviewed Q1 English-language studies published between 2020 and 2025 were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Of the 412 records, 15 eligible qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies were included and narratively synthesized.
Results: The findings indicated that higher health literacy improved access to mental health services and self-management, reducing anxiety (15–20%), depression (10–18%), and PTSD (12–17%). Greater media literacy enhanced psychological resilience by up to 35% by promoting critical thinking and reducing vulnerability to misinformation. However, contextual barriers, such as internet shutdowns, limited the application of these strategies.
Conclusion: This review indicates that enhancing health and media literacy can reduce anxiety, depression, and PTSD while improving resilience in conflict settings. Integrated literacy-based interventions are recommended to strengthen mental health support in war-affected regions.
Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses 2020 guidelines, this review examined studies exploring the association between health or media literacy and mental health outcomes in war-affected populations. Studies focusing solely on COVID-19–related distress were excluded. Peer-reviewed Q1 English-language studies published between 2020 and 2025 were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Of the 412 records, 15 eligible qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies were included and narratively synthesized.
Results: The findings indicated that higher health literacy improved access to mental health services and self-management, reducing anxiety (15–20%), depression (10–18%), and PTSD (12–17%). Greater media literacy enhanced psychological resilience by up to 35% by promoting critical thinking and reducing vulnerability to misinformation. However, contextual barriers, such as internet shutdowns, limited the application of these strategies.
Conclusion: This review indicates that enhancing health and media literacy can reduce anxiety, depression, and PTSD while improving resilience in conflict settings. Integrated literacy-based interventions are recommended to strengthen mental health support in war-affected regions.
Keywords: Armed conflicts, Health literacy, Media literacy, Mental health, Psychological resilience, Stress disorders, Post-traumatic
Type of Study: Review Article |
Subject:
● International Health
Received: 2025/08/25 | Accepted: 2025/11/22 | Published: 2026/07/1
Received: 2025/08/25 | Accepted: 2025/11/22 | Published: 2026/07/1
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