Table 4.

Indicators of the absence of quality social connection within digital interventions in the included studies (N=42).

Indicator	Description and measurement example	Values, n (%)	Improved depression outcomes, n (%)	Improved anxiety outcomes, n (%)
Negative interactions	Harm being inflicted through digital interventions, resulting in negative feelings such as loneliness or hurt. Social Networking Survey: “How positive (or negative) are your interactions with people on FBa and MSb?”	6 (14) [26,43,47,49,51,53]	—c	—
Loneliness	A sense of isolation as a result of being disconnected from other people. University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale: “I lack companionship”	7 (17) [19,30-32,40,47,59]	4 (57) [30,31,40,59] (Reduced loneliness)	2 (29) [31,59] (Reduced loneliness)
Feeling ignored	Not being responded to. Content analysis and thematic coding of semistructured interviews exploring engagement with therapist through social networks and its efficacy	2 (5) [49,51]	—	—

^aFB: Facebook.

^bMS: Myspace.

^cNot available.