Internet AddictionNCT06704984
Effectiveness of WeChat Public Account Intervention Based on the IMB Model for College Students With Internet Addiction
A study testing Intervention Name: WeChat Intervention Based on the IMB Model in people with Internet Addiction, run by Shihaiyan Shi at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
Objective: The investigators want to see if a WeChat program can help college students use the internet less and feel better. Methods: The investigators picked 226 students who use the internet too much. The investigators put 113 in a group that used a special WeChat program for six weeks. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 24 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Internet Addiction
- What is being tested?
- Intervention Name: WeChat Intervention Based on the IMB Model
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 226 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2023to 19 Jun 2023
- 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 24 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- College students diagnosed with Internet addiction, as evidenced by an IAT scale score of 40 or above.
- Age range between 18 and 24 years.
- Use WeChat software.
- Good physical health, capable of completing the whole process of the study.
- Voluntary participation with a signed Informed Consent form.
Who cannot join
- Presence of any mental illness or cognitive impairment.
- Current or impending receipt of psychological or pharmacological treatment for a mental health condition.
- Circumstances that would hinder participation, such as internships, suspensions, or other reasons for absence from school.
- Refusal to participate in the study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effectiveness of WeChat Public Account Intervention Based on the IMB Model Among College Students With Internet Addiction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Objective:
The investigators want to see if a WeChat program can help college students use the internet less and feel better.
Read more
Methods:
The investigators picked 226 students who use the internet too much. The investigators put 113 in a group that used a special WeChat program for six weeks. The other 113 did nothing different. The investigators checked how much they used the internet, slept, and how they felt before and after.
Interventions:
The WeChat program gave students info, motivation, and skills to cut down on internet use. It sent them articles and videos every two days.
Data Collection and Outcome Measures:
The investigators used a test to see how much students were addicted to the internet. The investigators also looked at their internet time, sleep, and feelings. The investigators used math tricks to see if the program worked.
Brief Summary:
This study checks if a WeChat program can help students with internet addiction. It teaches them about their habits and how to change them.
Read the detailed description
Background:
With the rise of digital technology, internet addiction has become a significant concern among college students, affecting their academic performance and mental health. The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model has shown promise in understanding and addressing health behaviors, including addiction.
Objective:
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a WeChat public account intervention based on the IMB model in reducing internet addiction among college students. The study also aims to explore the underlying mechanisms that lead to changes in addictive behaviors, contributing to the development of a new online treatment model for internet addiction.
Methods:
A total of 226 college students diagnosed with internet addiction were recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=113) or a control group (n=113) using stratified randomization based on gender. The intervention group participated in a structured six-week program that leveraged a WeChat public account to deliver content designed to educate about internet addiction, identify triggers, enhance motivation to change, and improve behavioral skills. The control group maintained their regular routines without any intervention. Data were collected before and after the intervention period using standardized measures, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and assessed for internet usage time, sleep duration, sleep quality, and somatic-psychological symptoms.
Interventions:
The intervention was structured around three modules: information, motivation, and behavioral skills. Participants in the intervention group received automated push notifications with articles or videos every two days through the WeChat public account. The content was designed to provide knowledge about internet addiction, strategies to cope with cravings, and methods to enhance self-efficacy and access to support. The intervention was monitored through the account's backend data to track engagement.
Data Collection and Outcome Measures:
The main outcome measure was the IAT scale score, which assesses the severity of internet addiction. Secondary outcomes included changes in internet usage time, sleep duration, sleep quality, and somatic-psychological symptoms. Data were analyzed using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) to evaluate the impact of the intervention and to identify differences pre- and post-intervention.
Significance:
The findings of this study could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of digital interventions for internet addiction and contribute to the development of targeted prevention and treatment strategies for college students.
- Conditions
- Internet Addiction
- Being tested
- Intervention Name: WeChat Intervention Based on the IMB Model
- Keywords
- IMB model, Internet addiction, WeChat public accounts, Randomized controlled trial, Intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Internet Addiction Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Intervention Name: WeChat Intervention Based on the IMB ModelBehavioural
A six-week intervention leveraging an online WeChat public account was implemented, integrating the IMB (Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills) model into its design. Drawing from literature analysis, the intervention plan was structured into three distinct modules: information, motivation, and behavioral skills. The comprehensive intervention encompassed disseminating knowledge on Internet addiction, identifying and avoiding triggers, fostering withdrawal motivation, imparting coping strategies for cravings and challenging situations, enhancing self-efficacy, and facilitating access to personal and social support. Participants who followed the WeChat public account received automated push notifications containing articles or videos every two days. Throughout the intervention period, engagement was monitored by tracking the readership of the sent content through the WeChat public account's backend data.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Intervention group: A six-week intervention leveraging an online WeChat public account was implemented, integrating the IMB (Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills) model into its design. Drawing from literature analysis, the intervention plan was structured into three distinct modules: information, motivation, and behavioral skills. The comprehensive intervention encompassed disseminating knowledge on Internet addiction, identifying and avoiding triggers, fostering withdrawal motivation, imparting coping strategies for cravings and challenging situations, enhancing self-efficacy, and facilitating access to personal and social support. Participants who followed the WeChat public account received automated push notifications containing articles or videos every two days. Throughout the intervention period, engagement was monitored by tracking the readership of the sent content through the WeChat public account's backend data. Receives: Behavioral: Intervention Name: WeChat Intervention Based on the IMB Model |
| Control group | No intervention | Control group: without any intervention, maintain normal life and study state. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Internet Addiction
Internet Addiction Measurement Tool: 20-item Internet Addiction Test (IAT) Description: Scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating a more severe level of internet addiction (20-39: no addiction, 40-69: mild addiction, ≥70: moderate to severe addiction).
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes (4)
Internet Usage Time
Internet Time Measurement: Minutes Description: Higher values indicate longer internet usage time.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Sleep Duration
Sleep Duration Measurement: Minutes Description: Higher values indicate longer sleep time
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Sleep Quality
Sleep Quality Measurement Tool: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Description: Scores range from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. This RCT includes only the components of sleep quality and sleep duration.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Somatic-Psychological Symptoms
Somatic-Psychological Symptoms Measurement Tool: Symptom Checklist Description: Binary outcomes indicating the presence or absence of specific symptoms, including Dizziness, Eye Discomfort, Gastrointestinal Problems, Low Mood, and Anxiety.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Nov 2024
- Study start1 Mar 2023
- Primary completion19 Jun 2023
- Study completion19 Jun 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Internet AddictionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Model description
- Intervention Group: Intervention based on the IMB model through WeChat official account Control Group: No intervention, maintaining normal life and study status
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 226 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Shihaiyan Shi
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Shihaiyan Shi, Anhui Medical University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06704984
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20190495
- Status last verified
- Nov 2024
- First submitted
- 9 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 26 Nov 2024
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Bai Y, Qu J, Li D, Yin H. Neural basis underlying the relation between internet addiction tendency and sleep quality: The intrinsic default-mode network connectivity pathways. Int J Psychophysiol. 2024 Jan;195:112264. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112264. Epub 2023 Nov 15.
PubMed 37977269Aziz M, Chemnad K, Al-Harahsheh S, Abdelmoneium AO, Bagdady A, Hassan DA, Ali R. The influence of adolescents essential and non-essential use of technology and Internet addiction on their physical and mental fatigues. Sci Rep. 2024 Jan 19;14(1):1745. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-51655-x.
PubMed 38242916Yang H, Geng A, Ruan W, Yang Y, Xu F, Shi H, Xu W, Jiang K, Guo H, Wang S, Hu Z, Man M, Zhang Z. Effectiveness of WeChat Public Account Intervention Based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model Among College Students With Internet Addiction: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2026 Jul 3;28:e84664. doi: 10.2196/84664.
PubMed 42398925
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Nov 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effectiveness of WeChat Public Account Intervention Based on the IMB Model Among College Students With Internet Addiction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06704984
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20190495
- Conditions
- Internet Addiction
- Keywords
- IMB model, Internet addiction, WeChat public accounts, Randomized controlled trial, Intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 226 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Shihaiyan ShiUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 19 Jun 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Objective:
The investigators want to see if a WeChat program can help college students use the internet less and feel better.
Methods:
The investigators picked 226 students who use the internet too much. The investigators put 113 in a group that used a special WeChat program for six weeks. The other 113 did nothing different. The investigators checked how much they used the internet, slept, and how they felt before and after.
Interventions:
The WeChat program gave students info, motivation, and skills to cut down on internet use. It sent them articles and videos every two days.
Data Collection and Outcome Measures:
The investigators used a test to see how much students were addicted to the internet. The investigators also looked at their internet time, sleep, and feelings. The investigators used math tricks to see if the program worked.
Brief Summary:
This study checks if a WeChat program can help students with internet addiction. It teaches them about their habits and how to change them.
Detailed description
Background:
With the rise of digital technology, internet addiction has become a significant concern among college students, affecting their academic performance and mental health. The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model has shown promise in understanding and addressing health behaviors, including addiction.
Objective:
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a WeChat public account intervention based on the IMB model in reducing internet addiction among college students. The study also aims to explore the underlying mechanisms that lead to changes in addictive behaviors, contributing to the development of a new online treatment model for internet addiction.
Methods:
A total of 226 college students diagnosed with internet addiction were recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=113) or a control group (n=113) using stratified randomization based on gender. The intervention group participated in a structured six-week program that leveraged a WeChat public account to deliver content designed to educate about internet addiction, identify triggers, enhance motivation to change, and improve behavioral skills. The control group maintained their regular routines without any intervention. Data were collected before and after the intervention period using standardized measures, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and assessed for internet usage time, sleep duration, sleep quality, and somatic-psychological symptoms.
Interventions:
The intervention was structured around three modules: information, motivation, and behavioral skills. Participants in the intervention group received automated push notifications with articles or videos every two days through the WeChat public account. The content was designed to provide knowledge about internet addiction, strategies to cope with cravings, and methods to enhance self-efficacy and access to support. The intervention was monitored through the account's backend data to track engagement.
Data Collection and Outcome Measures:
The main outcome measure was the IAT scale score, which assesses the severity of internet addiction. Secondary outcomes included changes in internet usage time, sleep duration, sleep quality, and somatic-psychological symptoms. Data were analyzed using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) to evaluate the impact of the intervention and to identify differences pre- and post-intervention.
Significance:
The findings of this study could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of digital interventions for internet addiction and contribute to the development of targeted prevention and treatment strategies for college students.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Intervention Group: Intervention based on the IMB model through WeChat official account Control Group: No intervention, maintaining normal life and study status
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Behavioral: Intervention Name: WeChat Intervention Based on the IMB ModelIntervention group: A six-week intervention leveraging an online WeChat public account was implemented, integrating the IMB (Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills) model into its design. Drawing from literature analysis, the intervention plan was structured into three distinct modules: information, motivation, and behavioral skills. The comprehensive intervention encompassed disseminating knowledge on Internet addiction, identifying and avoiding triggers, fostering withdrawal motivation, imparting coping strategies for cravings and challenging situations, enhancing self-efficacy, and facilitating access to personal and social support. Participants who followed the WeChat public account received automated push notifications containing articles or videos every two days. Throughout the intervention period, engagement was monitored by tracking the readership of the sent content through the WeChat public account's backend data. |
| Control group | No intervention | –Control group: without any intervention, maintain normal life and study state. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 24 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- College students diagnosed with Internet addiction, as evidenced by an IAT scale score of 40 or above.
- Age range between 18 and 24 years.
- Use WeChat software.
- Good physical health, capable of completing the whole process of the study.
- Voluntary participation with a signed Informed Consent form.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Presence of any mental illness or cognitive impairment.
- Current or impending receipt of psychological or pharmacological treatment for a mental health condition.
- Circumstances that would hinder participation, such as internships, suspensions, or other reasons for absence from school.
- Refusal to participate in the study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Name: WeChat Intervention Based on the IMB ModelA six-week intervention leveraging an online WeChat public account was implemented, integrating the IMB (Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills) model into its design. Drawing from literature analysis, the intervention plan was structured into three distinct modules: information, motivation, and behavioral skills. The comprehensive intervention encompassed disseminating knowledge on Internet addiction, identifying and avoiding triggers, fostering withdrawal motivation, imparting coping strategies for cravings and challenging situations, enhancing self-efficacy, and facilitating access to personal and social support. Participants who followed the WeChat public account received automated push notifications containing articles or videos every two days. Throughout the intervention period, engagement was monitored by tracking the readership of the sent content through the WeChat public account's backend data. | Behavioural | Intervention group |
Primary outcome
Internet Addiction
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Internet Addiction Measurement Tool: 20-item Internet Addiction Test (IAT) Description: Scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating a more severe level of internet addiction (20-39: no addiction, 40-69: mild addiction, ≥70: moderate to severe addiction).
4 secondary outcomes
Internet Usage Time
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Sleep Duration
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Sleep Quality
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Somatic-Psychological Symptoms
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Nov 2024.
- Background: PubMed 37977269Bai Y, Qu J, Li D, Yin H. Neural basis underlying the relation between internet addiction tendency and sleep quality: The intrinsic default-mode network connectivity pathways. Int J Psychophysiol. 2024 Jan;195:112264. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112264. Epub 2023 Nov 15.
- Background: PubMed 38242916Aziz M, Chemnad K, Al-Harahsheh S, Abdelmoneium AO, Bagdady A, Hassan DA, Ali R. The influence of adolescents essential and non-essential use of technology and Internet addiction on their physical and mental fatigues. Sci Rep. 2024 Jan 19;14(1):1745. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-51655-x.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42398925Yang H, Geng A, Ruan W, Yang Y, Xu F, Shi H, Xu W, Jiang K, Guo H, Wang S, Hu Z, Man M, Zhang Z. Effectiveness of WeChat Public Account Intervention Based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model Among College Students With Internet Addiction: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2026 Jul 3;28:e84664. doi: 10.2196/84664.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Intervention Name: WeChat Intervention Based on the IMB Model in people with Internet Addiction, run by Shihaiyan Shi 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 5 inclusion and 4 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 26 Nov 2024. 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 (time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks). 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 NCT06704984, which also lists 3 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 26 Nov 2024.