Smartphone Addiction and Its Effect on Mental Health: An Evidence Based Intervention for Amelioration

Summary

The use of Smartphone has been adopted faster than any other device in the history of digital electronics. Hence it is estimated that in 2016, 2.1 billion were found registered Smartphone users in the world and Pakistan was ranked 10th in the list of top 10 countries with largest number of mobile phone subscribers. Despite of its useful and timely utilization, the excessive use of Smartphone coerce the Individual to be dependent on the use of Smartphone psychologically and even physically. Furthermore, among the users, adolescents and young adults used Smartphone (90%) more than any other age groups. Moreover, this prevalence is expected to rise in the future due to the easy availability and swift changes and addition of new applications to Smartphone technology. Subsequently, the excessive and irrational use of Smartphone leads to Smartphone addiction which impact on individual mental health, physical health, and disrupt social, economic and educational functions. So, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an evidence based remedy in the treatment of Smartphone addiction. The study will comprise of two groups; one will receive CBT (intervention group) and the other one will be on Treatment As Usual (TAU). The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of CBT primarily by measuring the addictive smartphone usage assessed by Smart Phone Addiction Scale (SAS) and also on secondary outcomes including time management, academic performance and social functioning of adolescents. These assessments will be conducted before intervention (on the baseline assessment sessions), during the Intervention and after the intervention (on follow up assessment sessions). A total of 120 students were calculated on the basis of 80% statistical power required to detect the effect as indicated by previous study and will be selected from different educational institutions. SPSS 23.0 will be used for data analysis. The primary analysis will be mixed ANOVA to compare the between group and within group means differences on measures used in the study. Multiple Hierarchical Regression analysis will also be used for the prediction of outcome variables from the demographics. The total duration of the study is one year.

This study primarily aims to assess the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an evidence based remedy in the treatment for Smartphone addiction. The basic purpose is to minimize the severity of Smartphone addiction up to manageable level. Furthermore, there are certain psychiatric symptoms that are found to be associated with the addictive usage of Smartphone like stress, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, attention deficits and conduct problems. The study design will also allow to assess the effectiveness of CBT on such outcomes: (a) The depression, anxiety and stress level of the participants (b) The time management of the participants (c) The emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity and attention deficit problems, peer relationship problems and pro-social behavior aspects of the participants (d) The satisfaction level of the participants.

Conditions

• Smartphone Addiction

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) consisting of weekly 12 sessions will focus on moderated and controlled use of smartphone instead of abstinence model.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• International Islamic University, Islamabad

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

19 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-09-20

Primary Completion

2018-07-30

Completion

2018-07-30

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations