Effect of eight week Yoga intervention on Executive function and Psychological well- being in smartphone dependent university students: A randomized controlled trial

The rising prevalence of smartphone addiction among university students has become a growing concern due to its negative impact on executive functions and psychological well-being. Persistent and compulsive smartphone use has been linked to increased cognitive load, reduced working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition, along with elevated levels of stress, anxiety, poor mindfulness, and disrupted sleep quality. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of yoga, a holistic mind-body practice integrating postures, breathing, and meditation, in enhancing executive function and psychological well-being among university students with high smartphone dependency. It will assess improvements across cognitive and psychological domains, as well as the sustainability of these effects after the intervention, while also exploring yoga’s influence on screen time and smartphone addiction. The present randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of a structured yoga intervention on executive functioning and psychological well-being among smartphone-dependent university students. Participants will be screened for eligibility using the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version. Eligible students will then be randomized into two groups: an intervention group receiving the Smartphone Yoga Module practice for two months (three sessions per week, sixty minutes per session) and a control group with no intervention. Both groups will complete pre- and post-assessments that include executive function tasks, as well as psychological measures assessing stress, mindfulness, and sleep quality. A follow-up assessment will be conducted one month after the intervention period to evaluate the sustainability of improvements. This study seeks to validate yoga as a practical, accessible, and non-pharmacological approach to enhancing executive function and psychological resilience among smartphone-dependent university students.