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Internet AddictionNCT05529368

Effect of Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise on College Students

A study testing Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise interventions in people with Internet Addiction and Exercise, run by Xueqing Zhang at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is an impulse-control disorder of Internet behavior in the absence of addictive substances. Exercise has been found to have significant advantages in improving the severity and depressive symptoms of IAD. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 22 years
Conditions the study is for
Internet Addiction, Exercise, Tai Chi
What is being tested?
Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise interventions
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
93 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
4 Feb 2022to 10 Jun 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 22 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • participants were diagnosed with IAD according to the Internet Addiction Test;
  • the physical activity level of participants was low;
  • participants had no history of medication or psychotherapy.

Who cannot join

  • participants had a history of severe mental illness;
  • participants had a history of drug addiction;
  • participants regularly practiced moderate-intensity exercise.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site

  • Anhui Medical University

    Hefei, Anhui, 230032

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Effect of Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise in College Students With Internet Addiction: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is an impulse-control disorder of Internet behavior in the absence of addictive substances. Exercise has been found to have significant advantages in improving the severity and depressive symptoms of IAD. The purpose of this study was to observe the efficacy of conventional exercise and tai chi in the treatment of Internet addiction and to observe the changes in each group. Subjects diagnosed with IAD were randomly assigned to the exercise group, the tai chi group, or the control group. The exercise group and tai chi group received conventional exercise and tai chi for 8 weeks. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14) were evaluated for all subjects at baseline and postintervention.

Read the detailed description

Over the past decade, with the rapid growth and popularity of the Internet, Internet addiction (IA) has increased. Nowadays, Internet addiction disorder (IAD) has become a significant social problem, especially among teenagers and young adults. IAD is an impulse-control disorder of Internet behavior in the absence of addictive substances, its typical symptoms are involved, including tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, large amounts of time spent online, interruption of social relations, and disorder of the biological clock.

Western scholars have developed interventions for Internet addiction based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Besides applying CBT treatment, Chinese psychologists also have developed trials to apply psychoanalytic group intervention, family therapy, sports exercise prescriptions, and Naikan therapy. Physical exercise (PE) interventions are known to facilitate cerebral blood and oxygen supply, enhance brain metabolism and neurotransmitter function and improve the balance of the nervous system, which in turn helps improve physical and mental adaptability. Active physical exercise is helpful to improve the symptoms of Internet addiction. Tai chi is a mind-body exercise that originated in China. It is a form of physical and mental training combining Chinese martial arts and meditative movements involving a series of slowly performed, continuous, and rhythmic movements that put a minimal impact on the joints of the body. This study aimed to validate the use of tai chi as an alternative approach to Internet addiction and compare the effectiveness of tai chi with conventional exercise. With both primary and secondary outcome measures, the effects of tai chi and exercise on Internet addiction can be more comprehensively analyzed, which will provide a basis for its future establishment as a non-pharmacological method for the treatment of Internet addiction.

Being tested
Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise interventions
Medical subject headings
Internet Addiction Disorder, Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise interventionsBehavioural

    Subjects diagnosed with IAD were randomly assigned to the exercise group, the tai chi group, or the control group. The exercise group and tai chi group received conventional exercise and tai chi for 8 weeks.

Study groups in NCT05529368
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
conventional exercise groupExperimentalParticipants in the conventional exercise group attended an 8-week conventional exercise program, which consisted of the track, field, ball games et al. If the participant chooses to run, the mileage shall be more than 4km and the pace shall be within 10min. The conventional exercise treatment was performed 3 times a week, 1 hour each time.
Receives: Behavioral: Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise interventions
tai chi exercise groupExperimentalParticipants in the tai chi exercise group attended an 8-week Yang-style 24-form tai chi training program and tai chi (8 trigrams 5 steps) which was the tai chi style most commonly adopted and studied in the literature. The tai chi exercise treatment was performed 3 times a week, 1 hour each time.
Receives: Behavioral: Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise interventions
control groupNo interventionParticipants in the control group received no intervention and keep their eating and living habits.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Internet Addiction Test (IAT)

    The IAT is composed of 20 items with a 5-point scale (1 = "very rarely", 5 = "very frequently"). IAT scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of IA. Scores over 50 indicated a tendency of IA.

    Measured: 2 months

Secondary outcomes (4)

  1. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)

    The PSQI version used in the current study was a 19-item self-report retrospective questionnaire of the past 7 days designed to measure 7 domains called component scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medications, and daytime dysfunction. Component scores range from 0 (no difficulty) to 3 (severe difficulty). PSQI scores range from 0 to 21. Scores over 7 indicated a tendency for a sleep disorder.

    Measured: 2 months

  2. Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS)

    The SDS is composed of 20 items with a 4-point scale (1 = "none or a little of the time", 4 = "most or all of the time"). A standardized scoring algorithm is used to define symptoms of depression, with a total score range of 20-80. The final index score was converted by multiplying the raw score by 1.25 and then rounding off decimal places. The severity of depression was categorized according to the index score: nil depression (index score < 50), mild depression (index score 50-59), moderate depression (index score 60-69), and severe depression (index score≥70).

    Measured: 2 months

  3. Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)

    The SAS is composed of 20 items with a 4-point scale (1 = "none or a little of the time", 4 = "most or all of the time"). A standardized scoring algorithm is used to define symptoms of anxiety, with a total score range of 20-80. The final index score was converted by multiplying the raw score by 1.25 and then rounding off decimal places. The severity of anxiety was categorized according to the index score: nil anxiety (index score < 50), mild anxiety (index score 50-59), moderate anxiety (index score 60-69), and severe anxiety (index score≥70).

    Measured: 2 months

  4. Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14)

    The FS-14 consists of 14 items, each of which is a fatigue-related question. The maximum total score is 14, and the higher the score, the more severe the fatigue.

    Measured: 2 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 Sep 2022
  2. Study start4 Feb 2022
  3. Primary completion3 Jun 2022
  4. Study completion10 Jun 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
93 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05529368
Sponsor's protocol ID
XZhang
Status last verified
Sep 2022
First submitted
2 Sep 2022
Last updated
14 Sep 2022
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Li YY, Sun Y, Meng SQ, Bao YP, Cheng JL, Chang XW, Ran MS, Sun YK, Kosten T, Strang J, Lu L, Shi J. Internet Addiction Increases in the General Population During COVID-19: Evidence From China. Am J Addict. 2021 Jul;30(4):389-397. doi: 10.1111/ajad.13156. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

    PubMed 33738888

  • Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF 3rd, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989 May;28(2):193-213. doi: 10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4.

    PubMed 2748771

  • Chan AWK, Chair SY, Lee DTF, Leung DYP, Sit JWH, Cheng HY, Taylor-Piliae RE. Tai Chi exercise is more effective than brisk walking in reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors among adults with hypertension: A randomised controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2018 Dec;88:44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.08.009. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

    PubMed 30195124

  • Easwaran K, Gopalasingam Y, Green DD, Lach V, Melnyk JA, Wan C, Bartlett DJ. Effectiveness of Tai Chi for health promotion for adults with health conditions: a scoping review of Meta-analyses. Disabil Rehabil. 2021 Oct;43(21):2978-2989. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1725916. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

    PubMed 32070137

  • He M, Yang S, Miao Y, Zhang W, Zhu D, Xu D. Four-week Tai Chi intervention decreases attention bias to drug cues in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2021 Sep 3;47(5):638-648. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2021.1950745. Epub 2021 Jul 30.

    PubMed 34325579

  • Aaronson LS, Teel CS, Cassmeyer V, Neuberger GB, Pallikkathayil L, Pierce J, Press AN, Williams PD, Wingate A. Defining and measuring fatigue. Image J Nurs Sch. 1999;31(1):45-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1999.tb00420.x.

    PubMed 10081212

  • Li S, Wu Q, Tang C, Chen Z, Liu L. Exercise-Based Interventions for Internet Addiction: Neurobiological and Neuropsychological Evidence. Front Psychol. 2020 Jun 25;11:1296. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01296. eCollection 2020.

    PubMed 32670157

  • Young KS. Cognitive behavior therapy with Internet addicts: treatment outcomes and implications. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2007 Oct;10(5):671-9. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2007.9971.

    PubMed 17927535

  • ZUNG WW. A SELF-RATING DEPRESSION SCALE. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1965 Jan;12:63-70. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1965.01720310065008. No abstract available.

    PubMed 14221692

  • Zung WW. A rating instrument for anxiety disorders. Psychosomatics. 1971 Nov-Dec;12(6):371-9. doi: 10.1016/S0033-3182(71)71479-0. No abstract available.

    PubMed 5172928

  • Zhang X, Yang H, Zhang K, Zhang J, Lu X, Guo H, Yuan G, Zhu Z, Du J, Shi H, Jin G, Hao J, Sun Y, Su P, Zhang Z. Effects of exercise or tai chi on Internet addiction in college students and the potential role of gut microbiota: A randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2023 Apr 14;327:404-415. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.002. Epub 2023 Feb 6.

    PubMed 36754096

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Conventional Exercise and Tai Chi Exercise interventions in people with Internet Addiction and Exercise, run by Xueqing Zhang at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Sep 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Internet Addiction Test (IAT) (time frame: 2 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05529368, which also lists 11 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Sep 2022.

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