Table 1.

Literature Review Results

Article	Type of Study	Total N*	Description of Sample	Sources of Data	Participation Area(s)/Activities Studied	Conclusions
Abdel-Baki, Lal, Charron, Stip, & Kara, 2017	Quantitative	56	Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Individuals were diagnosed with first episode/early psychosis. Age range: 18–29.	A self-administered survey was used to collect information on the use of technological tools.	Social networking, discussion groups, gaming	Technology use and social networking were associated with helping youth with first episode early psychosis to stay in communication with friends as well as facilitating participation in group discussions.
Gowen, Deschaine, Gruttadara, & Markey, 2012	Quantitative	207	Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Participants included individuals with/without mental illness. Age range: 18–24.	An online survey administered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness collected fixed-choice response data on several categories including social networking habits and preferred features and functions of social networking sites.	Social networking, discussion groups	The researchers found differences in the use of social networking in young adults with/without mental illness. More specifically, young adults with mental illness on social networking sites were more likely to participate in discussion groups and comment on a blog, whereas young adults without a mental illness were more likely to plan social activities.
Gürbüz, Demir, Özcan, Kadak, & Poyraz, 2017	Quantitative	108	Inclusion criteria: The sample included 53 adolescents diagnosed with depressive disorder and 55 adolescents without depression. Exclusion criteria: Individuals with intellectual disability or psychotic disorders. Age range: 13–18. The mean age by study group was 15.29 ± 1.32 years (patients with mental illness) and 15.23± 1.25 years (control group).	The Social Network Use Questionnaire is a measure used to describe the frequency, duration, and purpose of Internet use on social networking sites.	Social networking, sharing photographs, online chatting	One of the main findings from the study was that adolescents with depression spend more time on social networking sites than adolescents without depression.
Iyer, Mangala. Anitha, Thara, & Malla, 2011	Quantitative	68	Inclusion criteria: Considered to be experiencing first episode psychosis, had a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, had not previously received antipsychotic medication for more than 30 days, and were able to provide informed consent. Exclusion criteria: History of organic mental disorders and primary diagnosis of mood disorder or substance-induced psychosis. Age range: The mean age was 28.79 ± 9.86 years.	Goal Attainment Section of the Wisconsin Quality of Life-Client Questionnaire was a measure used to assess goals of patients, which related to areas of participation (e.g. employment, school, religion).	Employment, school, religion	Researchers found that patients diagnosed with first episode/early psychosis were able to clearly identify goals which focused mostly on areas of participation pertaining to employment and school.
Jivanjee, Kruzich, & Gordon, 2008	Qualitative	59	Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Participants had a wide of mental health diagnoses, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Age range: 15–28 with a mean age of 19.5 ± 2.45 years.	Information was collected from participants via focus groups related to supports and barriers surrounding community integration.	Going to school, working, volunteer activities, reading, art, playing music, reading the Bible	This study indicates that community integration plays a significant role in the lives of young people, as it relates to their desire for making social connection with others with similar interests, personal autonomy to make their own choices, and utilizing their individual talents and interests to achieve goals.
Kaplan, Salzer, & Brusilovskiy, 2012	Quantitative	233	Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Axis I or II diagnosis, ability to give informed consent, actively involved in mental health treatment over the last 12 months, and primary diagnosis of serious mental illness. Age range: 18–30.	Yes-no, dichotomous variables were used to assess the following areas of participation: volunteering, employment, and education. Organizationally Mediated Empowerment Scale (Segal, Silverman, & Temkin, 1995) was used to measure civic engagement. Social Inclusion measure from Lehman’s Quality of Life Interview assessed two items: 1) spending time with a friend and 2) spending time with a significant other.	Employment, school, civic engagement, engagement in religious/spiritual activities, volunteering, friendships (e.g. spending time with friends)	These findings suggest that emerging adults are more likely to be students and spend time with friends, whereas mature adults are more involved in parenting, self-help, and spiritual activities.
Oxhandler, Narendorf, & Moffatt, 2018	Qualitative	55	Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Presenting diagnosis of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or schizophrenia spectrum disorder, were determined by unit psychiatrist to be stable enough to provide consent. Age range: 18–25	Information was collected from participants about mental health service use, religious identification, and religious practice via individual interviews.	Praying, reading the Bible, receiving support from their religious/spiritual community.	Facilitators (e.g. prayer, reading the Bible) and barriers (e.g. negative experiences with church) related to religion and spirituality were some of the areas that played a role in the mental health of young adults with serious mental illness.
Ramsay et al., 2011	Qualitative	100	Inclusion criteria: Hospitalized for a first episode of a non-affective psychotic disorder and provided written informed consent. Exclusion criteria: Intellectual disability, significant medical condition, previous hospitalization for psychosis within 3 months, or unable to provide informed consent. Age range: 24.3± 5.1 years.	Information was collected from participants about life and treatment goals via individual interviews.	Art and music, employment, education, spirituality	The life goals of individuals with first episode/early psychosis related to employment, education, relationships, housing and health.
Shimitras, Fossey, & Harvey, 2003	Quantitative	17	Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Adults diagnosed with schizophrenia or related non-affective psychosis. Age range: 18–24.	Detailed sociodemographic data, clinical questionnaires, symptom rating, and time budget data were used to collect information from participants about areas of community participation. Participants’ case notes were reviewed, a key informant interview was conducted, and the Social Behavior Schedule was administered.	Active leisure (e.g. sports, arts,), passive leisure (e.g. reading, watching television, listening to music), education, purchasing goods and services (e.g. window shopping)	Adults with schizophrenia participated more in passive leisure activities (e.g. reading) compared to active leisure or productive occupations (employment or education activities).
Thomas, Snethen, & Salzer, 2017	Quantitative	105	Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: All participants provided informed consent. Individuals had a primary schizophrenia-spectrum or major affective disorder diagnosis. Age range: 18–30	The Temple University Community Participation Measure, which is a measure of independent participation in community-based areas, was used.	Volunteer activities, going a park, going to a barbershop, restaurant/coffee shop, theater, health/exercise club (e.g. pool), community fair, place of worship (church, synagogue), museum, working for pay, going to school, zoo, watch and/or participate in a sports event, gym, movies, block party, earn a degree or certificate, political event, entertain family or friends in your home, visit library	Differences in community participation were observed between young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Young adults and middle-aged adults participated in employment and educational activities, whereas older adults participated in organizational, civic, and religious activities. Working and training activities were more important to young adults compared middle-aged or older adults.

^*N of participants who were considered to be young adults within each study.