This systematic review synthesizes current evidence examining the impact of nursing interventions based on Watson’s Theory of Human Caring on women’s mental health. The results from the 10 included studies (9 RCTs, 1 quasi-experimental), involving a total of 869 participants, demonstrate that THC-based approaches are effective in reducing psychological stress, enhancing self-efficacy, and improving quality of life.

The most striking finding of this systematic review is the consistent success of interventions based on Watson’s Theory of Human Caring in reducing anxiety, depression, and stress levels across various clinical stages of women’s health. Synthesized evidence demonstrates that Caritas-based nursing care plays a critical role in supporting mental well-being for women navigating traumatic processes, such as medical abortion, recurrent pregnancy loss, and unsuccessful infertility treatments. Notably, THC-based psychoeducation not only alleviates existing symptoms but also serves as a proactive protective strategy in preventing postpartum depression [27,28]. In the field of oncology, the integration of the theory with holistic methods, such as reflexology, has similarly led to a significant decrease in anxiety and depression scores among patients with gynecological cancer.

Expanding beyond women’s health, the broad utility of THC is evidenced in diverse clinical samples; for instance, an environment and care organized according to THC principles significantly decreased psychological distress in patients undergoing open-heart surgery [33]. Similarly, within pediatric care, implementing Watson’s framework has been synthesized as a crucial instrument for enhancing family-centered care, reducing clinical anxiety, and fostering holistic healing structures for children hospitalized in specialized units [7]. Furthermore, the reach of the theory extends to the professional development of care providers, where clinical education programs grounded in Watson’s theory significantly improve coping strategies and reduce anxiety levels among nursing students [25]. Collectively, these results suggest that the transpersonal caring approach of THC fills the gaps in traditional care models by focusing on the spiritual and existential needs of the patient, thereby providing a robust clinical guide for protecting mental health across various populations.

Another significant finding of this review is that Watson’s Theory of Human Caring extends beyond mere symptom management to strengthen internal resources, specifically by enhancing self-efficacy and adaptive coping mechanisms. In the challenging context of infertility, for instance, THC-based interventions significantly bolster self-efficacy and adjustment levels [24,25]. By fostering a transpersonal caring relationship, the theory enables women to transition from passive distress to active coping strategies. This empowering effect is equally evident in maternal health; THC-based support directly increases breastfeeding self-efficacy, illustrating the practical success of the “transpersonal teaching–learning” process during critical life transitions [10].

Beyond routine clinical adjustments, the profound impact of THC on coping is further highlighted in acute psychological crises. Evidence indicates that caritas-based nursing care can mitigate suicidal behaviors and self-harm by promoting self-reflection, impulse control, and family resilience [34]. Interestingly, this framework’s benefits extend from patients to practitioners; research on nursing students indicates that clinical education programs grounded in Watson’s theory significantly improve stress-coping approaches—specifically by increasing self-confident and social-support seeking behaviors while reducing submissive and unconfident stances [35]. Collectively, these findings suggest that THC serves as a vital framework for promoting resilience, allowing both patients and practitioners to navigate complex health transitions with greater clinical and personal competence.

A further dimension of the findings concerns the impact of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring on quality of life and symptomatic relief in oncological care, where it is often integrated with holistic and physiological interventions. Supporting this approach in thoracic oncology, combining Watson’s theory with the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) not only improved pulmonary function and physical recovery but also significantly lowered anxiety and depression scores in lung cancer patients post-surgery [36]. Similarly, when THC is integrated with complementary methods such as reflexology or aromatherapy, it significantly enhances the quality of life and reduces the symptom burden among women with gynecological cancers [9,30]. Further reinforcing these results, a recent study demonstrated that education based on Watson’s theory effectively reduces depressive symptoms and pain intensity while significantly increasing levels of hope in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy [37].

Beyond these clinical outcomes, Watson’s theory serves as a vital guide in meeting the expectations for a ‘healing care environment.’ In pediatric oncology, caritas-based care addresses children’s needs for humanistic and compassionate support, facilitating their healthy adjustment to the hospital environment [38]. These collective results suggest that the caritas processes facilitate a synergistic effect, addressing both the physiological discomfort of treatment and the psychological distress of a cancer diagnosis. Ultimately, the theory’s existential dimension proves vital in life-threatening conditions; by helping patients rediscover “meaning and hope,” THC-based care supports spiritual healing and helps patients maintain their dignity and inner strength despite the challenges of a malignant disease.

While these findings strongly highlight the clinical and existential value of humanistic caring, it is prominent to mention that most of the reviewed evidence originates from Turkish studies, alongside one study from Iran. This concentration reflects a well-established and growing trend in the regional literature; over the past few years, Turkish nursing scholars have extensively utilized and implemented Watson’s Human Caring Theory across various clinical fields, ranging from pediatric care and burn management to breastfeeding education and gynecological oncology [8,9,10]. Consequently, while these nursing interventions primarily operate downstream of the broader structural determinants of women’s health [39], as noted in the introduction, macro-level factors such as economic inequalities, rigid gender roles, and heavy caregiving burdens deeply shape women’s underlying vulnerability to mental distress [40]. The interventions reviewed in this study—many of which rely on educational materials, distance learning, or digital platforms like WhatsApp—focus on addressing coping mechanisms at an individual level during intense clinical transitions. Consequently, the actual effectiveness of these caritas-based frameworks may inherently fluctuate depending on a woman’s socioeconomic status, social class, formal education level, and digital resource accessibility [41]. While THC-based protocols provide indispensable humanistic support, they cannot dismantle the upstream structural inequities causing the initial distress. Therefore, future nursing frameworks must integrate equity-sensitive designs, ensuring that digital and educational caring interventions look upstream to accommodate patients whose structural constraints might otherwise limit their engagement with holistic care models [41].

In conclusion, this review demonstrates that Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is a powerful clinical framework that effectively humanizes nursing practice. By addressing the spiritual and existential dimensions of care, THC-based interventions consistently alleviate anxiety and depression while bolstering self-efficacy and hope across diverse clinical settings. Whether managing traumatic health transitions or chronic illnesses, the Caritas processes provide a synergistic effect that transcends traditional biophysical care. Ultimately, integrating Watson’s theory into clinical practice and education serves as a robust strategy for protecting mental health and preserving patient dignity during the most challenging life events.

Despite the significant insights provided, this systematic review has several limitations. Firstly, most of the included studies were conducted in a single geographic region (predominantly Türkiye), which may limit the generalizability of the findings to different cultural and healthcare contexts. Secondly, the variation in the duration, frequency, and specific caritas processes utilized across the interventions introduced a degree of heterogeneity, making it challenging to determine a standardized “dosage” for THC-based care. Thirdly, many studies relied on self-reported scales to measure psychological outcomes, which are subject to subjective bias. Finally, the lack of long-term follow-up in most trials limits our understanding of the sustained impact of these interventions over time. Future research involving multi-center trials with larger, more diverse populations and longitudinal designs is necessary to validate these findings globally.

Another notable limitation of this systematic review relates to the potential issues of equity and intervention accessibility. Several of the included studies relied heavily on psychoeducational materials, distance learning modules, and WhatsApp-based support systems. However, the primary studies did not evaluate whether these digital and educational formats were equally accessible or effective for women with lower formal education levels, limited digital literacy, or restricted technological access. Consequently, our findings may inadvertently overrepresent populations with stable digital resources and higher literacy, masking potential disparities in intervention efficacy among structurally disadvantaged groups.