Psychological Interventions for Reducing Social Media Dependence in Adolescents

Reducing Social Media Dependence in Adolescents: A Comparison of Game-Based Behavioral Activation and Emotion Regulation Training

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

IRCT

Registry ID

IRCT20251116068014N2

Enrollment

900

Registered

2026-01-10

Start date

2026-01-04

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-02-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Social media dependence

Interventions

Intervention 1: In the intervention group, participants receive game-based behavioral activation. This intervention is designed based on the principles of Behavioral Activation (BA) and, by utilizing

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

13 Years to 18 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Adolescents aged 13 to 18 years Social media dependence based on scores above the cutoff point on a validated assessment tool Ability to understand and participate in group-based intervention sessions Provision of informed assent by the adolescent and informed consent by a parent or legal guardian Regular access to a mobile phone or social media platforms

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorders such as psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder Current diagnosis of substance use disorder at study entry Concurrent participation in structured psychotherapy or similar psychological interventions Unstable use of psychotropic medications during the past three months Cognitive or language impairments that prevent understanding instructions or effective participation Lack of willingness of the adolescent or parent/legal guardian to participate in the study

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The severity of social media dependence, measured by the total score obtained from a validated social media dependence assessment instrument, with the change in score from baseline to post intervention considered as the indicator of intervention effect. Timepoint: The severity of social media dependence is measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a three month follow up. Method of measurement: The severity of social media dependence is measured using a standardized and validated social media dependence questionnaire, with the total score considered as the primary outcome measure.	—

Measure

Time frame

The severity of social media dependence, measured by the total score obtained from a validated social media dependence assessment instrument, with the change in score from baseline to post intervention considered as the indicator of intervention effect. Timepoint: The severity of social media dependence is measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a three month follow up. Method of measurement: The severity of social media dependence is measured using a standardized and validated social media dependence questionnaire, with the total score considered as the primary outcome measure.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Emotion regulation score, measured by the total score obtained from a validated emotion regulation questionnaire, with the change in score from baseline to post intervention considered as an indicator of intervention effect. Timepoint: Secondary outcomes are measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a three month follow up. Method of measurement: Emotion regulation is measured using the Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale developed by Gratz and Roemer, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure.;.Concentration is measured using the Conners Adolescent Attention Problems Questionnaire developed by Conners, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure. Timepoint: Secondary outcomes are measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a three month follow up. Method of measurement: Concentration is measured using the Conners Adolescent Attention Problems Questionnaire developed by Conners, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure.;Anxiety is measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory developed by Beck and colleagues, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure. Timepoint: Secondary outcomes are measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a three month follow up. Method of measurement: Anxiety will be measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, developed by Beck and colleagues, and the total score obtained from this questionnaire will be considered as the outcome index.;Sleep quality is measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index developed by Buysse and colleagues, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure. Timepoint: Secondary outcomes are measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of	—

Measure

Time frame

Emotion regulation score, measured by the total score obtained from a validated emotion regulation questionnaire, with the change in score from baseline to post intervention considered as an indicator of intervention effect. Timepoint: Secondary outcomes are measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a three month follow up. Method of measurement: Emotion regulation is measured using the Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale developed by Gratz and Roemer, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure.;.Concentration is measured using the Conners Adolescent Attention Problems Questionnaire developed by Conners, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure. Timepoint: Secondary outcomes are measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a three month follow up. Method of measurement: Concentration is measured using the Conners Adolescent Attention Problems Questionnaire developed by Conners, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure.;Anxiety is measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory developed by Beck and colleagues, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure. Timepoint: Secondary outcomes are measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a three month follow up. Method of measurement: Anxiety will be measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, developed by Beck and colleagues, and the total score obtained from this questionnaire will be considered as the outcome index.;Sleep quality is measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index developed by Buysse and colleagues, and the total score of this questionnaire is considered as the outcome measure. Timepoint: Secondary outcomes are measured at baseline before the intervention, immediately after completion of

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Countries

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Contacts

Public Contactkhatereh Arbabi

Rose White Psychological and Counseling Clinics affiliated with the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee

Arbabikhatere@gmail.com+98 21 2294 2918

Outcome results

None listed

Source: IRCT (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 7, 2026