Problematic Internet Usage: Can commitment and progress frameworks help regulate daily personal internet use in adults? A randomised controlled trial

Problem Internet Usage (PIU) is associated with numerous psychological concerns. A model of the dynamics of self-regulation (DSR) may provide a useful framework for psychological interventions with PIU, given previous research showing that the framework can be successfully applied to PIU behaviors. The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the efficacy of an internet-based intervention to reduce the amount of daily personal internet hours, PIU symptoms, and associated mental health issues for university students who reported PIU issues. Assessments were undertaken at baseline, on each day of the 21 day intervention, and 6-week follow-up. Seventy-four participants completed the intervention and 38 completed follow-up assessments. The experimental group reduced daily personal internet usage to a greater degree than the active control group at the end of the intervention. Findings also demonstrated a greater reduction in Internet Addiction Test (IAT) scores for the experimental group compared to the active control. Limited effects were found for depression, anxiety, stress and social anxiety scores. A third of participants in the experimental condition demonstrated a clinically significant change in IAT scores by the end of the intervention. There were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups at follow-up for IAT scores only.