WeChat-based Intervention for Internet Addiction
- Conditions
- Internet Addiction
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Self-initiated learningBehavioral: General health informationBehavioral: Personalized and interactive behavioural support
- Registration Number
- NCT05906108
- Lead Sponsor
- Dr. Wang Man-Ping
- Brief Summary
The study aims to design an integrated model which combined self-initiated online learning and personalized interactive behavioral support delivered via WeChat for university students to reduce internet addiction level.
- Detailed Description
Internet addiction (IA), also described as pathological or problematic internet use, or internet addiction disorders, refers to a pattern of excessive internet use, and it is a new form of behavioral addiction. There are multiple subtypes of IA including excessive online gaming, sexual preoccupations and excessive messages. The excessive use of internet often generates distress or impairments, and evidence showing IA is accompanied by numerous negative impact physically, psychologically and socially such as ADHD, interpersonal sensitivity4, depression and anxiety, family discord, social problems. Pervious study also suggested IA has a significant correlation with academic performance decrement among students, who were considered as a particular vulnerable population being addicted to internet due to easy access to internet, flexible schedule, positive social atmosphere for computer/smartphone use and lack of parental supervision of internet use. IA is a relatively recent and widespread phenomenon. It was estimated 11% Chinese university students were addicted to internet, and an increase in internet use among Chinese children and adolescents was observed amid the COVID-19 epidemic.
IA is believed have some similarities with substance addiction (e.g. smoking, alcohol drinking and drug abuse) as subjects would undergo same symptoms such as depressed, anxious and lonely, affect neurobiology system with common mechanism, and both suffer from substance withdrawal. The interventions for substance addiction have been adopted to treat IA with promising effect including pharmacotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), family-based intervention and motivational interviewing, while the treatment for IA has not been standardized yet. In view of the similar characteristics of IA with substance addiction, brief advice and mobile phone-based personalized behavioral support could be feasible to treat IA which has been proven effective in our previous community-based smoking cessation trial, and the COVID-19 epidemic increased the acceptance of mHealth interventions.
The specific objectives are:
1. . To examine the effectiveness of the integrated model in reducing IA in university students;
2. . To assess the acceptability and feasibility of using the model.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 120
- 1). Currently a full-time university student in HK;
- 2). Aged 18-25 years;
- 3). Internet Addiction Test (IAT) > 50;
- 4). Able to understand and communicate in Chinese;
- 5). Own a smartphone can access internet and proficiency in using WeChat;
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- Currently participating in other internet addiction controlling projects or services;
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- Experiencing psychiatric/psychological diseases or receiving regular psychotropic medication.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Intervention group Personalized and interactive behavioural support WeChat-based self-initiated learning, personalized and interactive behavioural support Intervention group Self-initiated learning WeChat-based self-initiated learning, personalized and interactive behavioural support Control group General health information General health information
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method internet addiction score at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline The primary outcome will be the internet addiction score change assessed by Internet Addiction Test (IAT) which is the most valid instrument for IA assessment. The test contains 20 items which rated on a 5 point Likert Scale (1 point refers to rarely, and 5 point refers to always). Score higher than 50 is considered as experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of internet, and the impact on daily life should be aware
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Perceived happiness at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline A single-item scale (do you feel happy in general?) on an 11-point Likert Scale (0-10) which has been demonstrated valid and reliable in measuring happiness will be used.
Sleep time at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline The daily sleeping time will be self-estimated and reported.
Online hours per week at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline The daily online hours will be self-estimated and reported. The sum of the online hours will be calculated every 7 days as the total online hours per week.
Physical activity level at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline The physical activity will be measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
Self-rated health at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline Self-reported health status will be measured using a single-item scale (in general, would you say that your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?")
Depression and anxiety at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) will be used to measure depression and anxiety. The 4-item questionnaire consists of a 2-item depression sub-scale and 2-item anxiety sub-scale. The questions are answered on a four-point Likert Scale. The sum of the scores is categorized into normal (0-2), mild (3-5), moderate (6-8) and severe (9-12). The total score of 3 or greater on each sub-scale suggest depression or anxiety, respectively.
Academic performance at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline Participant's academic performance will be assessed by " In general, would you say your academic performance is Excellent/Very good/Good/Fair/Poor?
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong
ðŸ‡ðŸ‡°Hong Kong, Please Select, Hong Kong