Effect of a Nurse-Led Traditional Children's Games on Internet Use and Stress Levels in Middle School Students: A Randomized Controlled Study
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Necmettin Erbakan University
- Enrollment
- 65
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Weekly Internet Use Duration
Study Overview
Brief Summary
his randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led traditional children's games program on weekly internet use and perceived stress among middle school students in Türkiye. Students who used the internet for more than two hours per day were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
The intervention group participated in a structured traditional children's games program for 60 minutes, three times per week for eight weeks, while the control group continued their usual school activities. Weekly internet use and perceived stress were assessed before and after the intervention. The study evaluated whether participation in traditional children's games could reduce internet use and perceived stress and support school-based health promotion led by nurses.
Detailed Description
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led traditional children's games program on reducing internet use and perceived stress among middle school students in Türkiye.
Excessive internet use among children has become an important public health concern because of its association with psychological stress, physical inactivity, sleep problems, and psychosocial difficulties. Traditional children's games are culturally relevant, physically active, group-based activities that may provide a healthy alternative to excessive screen time while promoting children's physical, emotional, and social well-being.
The study employed a pre-test/post-test, parallel-group randomized controlled design. Eligible students who used the internet for more than two hours per day were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Randomization was performed using a computer-generated random allocation sequence created through Randomizer.org by an independent statistical expert.
The intervention consisted of an eight-week traditional children's games program implemented by a nurse researcher as an extracurricular school-based activity. Students in the intervention group participated in 60-minute sessions three times per week under researcher supervision. The games were selected from the Traditional Children's Games Festival Games Guide published by the Turkish Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Activities included structured, age-appropriate group games such as Duck, Duck, Goose, Hide and Seek, Handkerchief Grab, Dodgeball, and Jump Rope, emphasizing physical activity, teamwork, communication, attention, and self-regulation.
Participants in the control group continued their routine school curriculum, including regular physical education classes, without receiving any additional intervention.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None (Participant)
Masking Description
Due to the nature of the behavioral intervention, participants and the intervention provider could not be blinded. However, data entry, statistical analyses, and reporting were performed by an independent statistician blinded to group allocation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 10 Years to 12 Years (Child)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Students enrolled in the 5th or 6th grade.
- •Aged 10-12 years.
- •Daily internet use of more than 2 hours.
- •Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian.
- •Child assent obtained before participation.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Having a physical, orthopedic, or mental illness or disability that could interfere with participation in the intervention.
- •Regular participation in organized sports activities or sporting events.
Arms & Interventions
İntervention Group
Participants in the intervention group received a nurse-led traditional children's games program conducted as an extracurricular school-based activity. The program consisted of 60-minute sessions, three times per week for eight weeks. Age-appropriate traditional Turkish children's games involving physical activity, teamwork, cooperation, and social interaction were implemented under the supervision of the researcher. Games were selected from the Traditional Children's Games Festival Guide published by the Turkish Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Intervention: Nurse-Led Traditional Children's Games Program (Behavioral)
Control Group
Participants continued their usual school curriculum, including regular physical education classes, without receiving the traditional children's games program.
Intervention: Usual School Activities (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Weekly Internet Use Duration
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 8 (immediately after the intervention)
Weekly internet use duration (hours/week) reported by parents using the Descriptive Characteristics Form
Perceived Stress Scale for Children Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 8 (immediately after the intervention)
Perceived stress assessed using the Turkish version of the Perceived Stress Scale for Children (8-11 years). Total scores range from 9 to 36, with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Serap Batı
Dr. Lecturer
Necmettin Erbakan University