Digital Screen Addiction and Sleep Quality in Adolescents
Conditions
Keywords
Digital screen addiction, sleep quality, digital detox intervention, smartphone overuse
Brief summary
This study evaluates the effects of a digital detox program on screen time, sleep quality, and healthy lifestyle behaviors among adolescents aged 10-19 years. Excessive use of smartphones and digital devices is associated with poor sleep quality, reduced well-being, and impaired daily functioning. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a digital detox intervention group or a control group. The intervention consists of ten weekly 60-minute sessions designed to reduce screen time, increase awareness of digital media use, and improve sleep hygiene. The control group will not receive any intervention. Data will be collected at baseline and approximately 10 weeks after the intervention using standardized questionnaires and screen time measures. The study aims to evaluate whether a structured digital detox program improves behavioral and sleep-related outcomes in adolescents.
Detailed description
Digital screen use has become a central part of daily life worldwide, particularly among adolescents. Excessive screen exposure has been associated with sleep disturbances, psychological distress, and reduced academic performance. Previous studies have demonstrated associations between problematic smartphone use and poor sleep quality, with pre-sleep behaviors acting as a mediating factor. Digital detox interventions, defined as structured reductions in digital device use, have been reported to improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and support healthier behavioral patterns. However, there is limited experimental evidence evaluating structured digital detox programs in adolescent populations within educational settings. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effects of a structured digital detox program on screen use behavior, sleep quality, and lifestyle outcomes among adolescents.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDigital Detox Intervention
Behavioral Intervention: Digital Detox Program A structured 10-week program delivered in weekly 60-minute sessions. The program includes psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral strategies, reduction of screen use behaviors, goal setting, self-monitoring, and sleep hygiene training. Participants track daily screen time and receive guided feedback.
Sponsors
Şırnak Üniversitesi
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants are randomly assigned in parallel to either a digital detox intervention group receiving a structured behavioral program or a control group receiving no intervention.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
10 Years to 19 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Aged 10-19 years Smartphone user At least 3 hours of daily screen time Willing to participate in the digital detox program Written informed consent and parental consent obtained No diagnosed chronic medical condition or sleep disorder
Exclusion criteria
Outside the age range (10-19 years) Does not use a smartphone Daily screen time less than 3 hours Diagnosed chronic medical illness (e.g., diabetes, asthma, epilepsy) Diagnosed sleep disorder Current psychiatric treatment or medication use Previous participation in a similar digital detox or sleep intervention Unable to attend intervention sessions regularly Refusal to complete study assessments
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in Multi-Screen Addiction Levels | Baseline and approximately 10 weeks post-intervention | Participants' levels of problematic multiscreen use will be assessed using the total score of the Multiscreen Addiction Scale. Higher scores indicate higher levels of problematic screen use. Changes will be evaluated by comparing baseline and post-intervention measurements following a 10-week digital detox program. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in the Level of Healthy and Sustainable Lifestyle | Baseline and approximately 10 weeks post-intervention | Healthy and sustainable lifestyle behaviors will be assessed using the total score of the Healthy and Sustainable Lifestyle Scale (range: 24 to 120). Higher scores indicate healthier and more sustainable lifestyle behaviors. Changes will be evaluated by comparing baseline and post-intervention measurements. |
| Changes in Sleep Quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI) | Baseline and approximately 10 weeks post-intervention | Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) total score (range: 0 to 21). Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality. A score greater than 5 indicates poor sleep quality. Changes will be evaluated by comparing baseline and post-intervention measurements. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed