This meta-analysis appraised the therapeutic efficacy of group interventions for trauma-exposed university students. Employing a systematic PICO-SD framework for literature selection and exclusion criteria, keywords were used to search domestic and in...
This meta-analysis appraised the therapeutic efficacy of group interventions for trauma-exposed university students. Employing a systematic PICO-SD framework for literature selection and exclusion criteria, keywords were used to search domestic and international academic databases including PubMed, CINAHL, and RISS for articles published from January 2021 to September 2025. This search initially yielded 40,977 documents. These were subsequently classified via a PRISMA flowchart, ultimately leading to the selection of eight final eligible studies. Findings revealed a statistically significant, moderate aggregate effect size for these interventions. Optimal delivery featured 4-8 week durations, 8 total sessions with at least three weekly sessions, and individual sessions under 90 minutes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based emotion-focused approaches demonstrated superior effectiveness, ameliorating negative affect and self-concept impairments, and fostering psychological well-being and adaptive growth. Conversely, no significant impact was observed on cognitive integration or meaning reconstruction. This study delineates efficacious program attributes and their effect magnitudes, providing evidence-based recommendations for advancing trauma-informed group interventions for university students.