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Internet Addiction DisorderNCT07277621

Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Social Media Addiction Among School-Going Adolescents in Karachi

A study testing awareness videos in people with Internet Addiction Disorder, run by Dow University of Health Sciences at 1 site in Pakistan.

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

Addiction to Social Networking Sites (SNS) is considered a major public health problem and is well recognized around the world with serious social and health-related implications. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 11 to 16 years
Conditions the study is for
Internet Addiction Disorder
What is being tested?
awareness videos
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
260 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
10 Oct 2025to 10 Jan 2026
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 11 to 16 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Age between 11-16 years
  • Either male or female (or any other gender)
  • User of any of the listed social media (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat, Tumblr, TikTok or Discord) for the past one year
  • In possession of a functioning laptop/smartphone for attending online intervention vlogs and receiving text messages

Who cannot join

  • Any student undergoing psychiatric or psychological treatment/ counseling
  • Any student taking anti-psychotics or any treatment for chronic disorders (diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, asthma)
  • Any student suffering from chronic mental illness, e.g. depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc.
  • Any student who has suffered a major trauma in the past year, e.g. death of a loved one, accident, etc.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Pakistan1 site
  • Dow University of health Sciences

    Karachi

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Perceptions and Targeted Behavioral Change Interventions for Social Networking Site Addiction in School-going Adolescents of Karachi: A Concurrent Embedded Mixed-methods Case Study

Addiction to Social Networking Sites (SNS) is considered a major public health problem and is well recognized around the world with serious social and health-related implications. There have been numerous studies that have been undertaken to examine the prevalence and severity of SNS addiction in Pakistani undergraduates. However, there are limited studies that have been done on the school-going adolescent population, especially in Pakistan. More importantly, there have been no interventions done to improve the minimization of the level of SNS addiction in this vulnerable cohort. This study will evaluate the effect of implementing targeted interventions for reducing the burden of SNS addiction so that in the future, evidence-based decisions may be taken and changes are incorporated in school curriculums.

Objective The specific objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of SNS addiction and to explore the perceptions of school-going adolescents regarding SNS addiction in metropolitan Karachi, Pakistan. It will further aim to introduce well-designed, online, tailored behavioral change interventions amongst students found with a high burden for significantly decreasing the prevalence of SNS addiction and for assessing their readiness to change.

Methodology This will be a mixed-methods concurrent embedded interventional study. The study will be conducted in selected private schools of Karachi in all its seven Districts. Prevalence will be assessed online by sharing an internationally validated tool with the students after getting students and their parent's consent. Concurrently, focus group discussions will be conducted in school premises with selected students from grades VI-XI. Once prevalence is ascertained, interventions will be designed to reduce levels of SNS addiction. Students will be randomly assigned to control and intervention groups and will be shown carefully designed interventions in the form of videos targeting specific domains of addiction. The effects of these interventions and readiness to change will be assessed after a period of three months.

Read the detailed description

Addiction to Social Networking Sites (SNS) has emerged as a growing public health concern globally, with documented associations with psychological distress, academic decline, sleep disturbances, and impaired social functioning. While several studies in Pakistan have examined the prevalence and severity of SNS addiction among university students, there is a significant research gap concerning school-going adolescents-a population particularly vulnerable due to early and widespread digital exposure. Notably, no behavioral intervention studies have been conducted in Pakistan targeting the reduction of SNS addiction among adolescents. Addressing this gap is critical for informing preventive strategies and school-based digital wellness programs.

This study aims to assess the burden of SNS addiction among adolescents enrolled in private schools in Karachi and to evaluate the effectiveness of structured, online, behavioral change interventions tailored specifically for this age group. By generating actionable evidence, the study seeks to support future policy recommendations and integration of digital well-being content into school curricula.

Objectives

The primary objectives of this study are:

To estimate the prevalence and severity of Social Networking Site addiction among school-going adolescents in Karachi using an internationally validated assessment tool.

To explore perceptions, attitudes, and contextual factors influencing SNS overuse through focus group discussions with adolescents.

To implement and evaluate targeted behavioral change interventions, tailored to students identified with high levels of SNS addiction.

To assess readiness to change and the effect of the intervention on reducing SNS addiction scores over a three-month period.

Study Design

This research will employ a mixed-methods, concurrent embedded, quasi-experimental interventional design. Quantitative and qualitative components will be conducted simultaneously, with the quantitative arm functioning as the primary driver of the study and qualitative insights embedded to contextualize findings.

Study Setting

The study will be conducted in selected private schools across all seven districts of Karachi, Pakistan. Schools will be approached through administrative approval, and written consent/assent will be obtained from both parents and students as per ethical guidelines.

Study Procedures

  1. Baseline Assessment An online, self-administered survey will be distributed to students (Grades VI-XI). The survey will include: Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) \& Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), that are both internationally validated tools will be employed. Demographic information and patterns of SNS use will also be assessed. Students identified with moderate to high SNS addiction scores will qualify for the intervention phase.
  2. Qualitative Component

Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) will be conducted with selected students to explore:

Perceptions about social media use

Motivations and triggers for excessive use

Barriers to reducing screen time

Suggestions for acceptable intervention formats

FGDs will be conducted on school premises by trained facilitators.

Intervention Phase

Eligible students will be assigned to Intervention or Control groups based on school logistics and administrative feasibility (non-random assignment).

The intervention group will receive online, pre-recorded, culturally tailored behavioral change videos addressing:

Digital hygiene and time management

Emotional regulation

Sleep hygiene

Healthy alternative activities

Risks of excessive social media use

The control group will continue usual routines and will be offered the intervention later.

  1. Follow-up and Outcome Assessment

After three months, both groups will complete the BSMAS \& SOCRATES again.

Primary Outcome: Change in SNS addiction scores from baseline to three months.

Secondary Outcomes:

Self-reported changes in screen time

Improvement in readiness to change (using adapted readiness-to-change scales)

Sample Size

A sample size of approximately 260 students (130 per group) is planned, accounting for anticipated attrition.

Significance of the Study

This will be the first interventional study in Pakistan evaluating structured behavioral strategies to reduce SNS addiction among adolescents. The results will provide critical evidence to support:

Integration of digital wellness modules into school curricula

Development of adolescent-centered mental health promotion strategies

Early preventive interventions for problematic technology use

By adopting a mixed-methods approach, the study will not only quantify addiction levels but also explore contextual influences, making the findings more relevant for policy, program design, and future research.

Being tested
awareness videos
Keywords
Social media addiction; Behavioral change interventions
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.

  • awareness videosBehavioural

    this is a public health study whereby awareness videos will be shared with the intervention group to study behavior change for their addiction

Study groups in NCT07277621
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
intervention armExperimentalDescription and content: Students in the intervention arm will receive a structured package of online, pre-recorded behavioral change videos specifically tailored for adolescents. Content domains include: Emotional regulation and coping skills Time management and self-monitoring of SNS use Sleep hygiene and evening routines Alternatives to SNS (physical activity, hobbies, face-to-face socializing) Awareness of risks, privacy, and cyber-safety Videos are short (5-8 minutes each), modular, and age-appropriate. The full intervention comprises 4 weekly modules delivered over 4 weeks, with follow-up reinforcement messages during weeks 5-12. Timing: Intervention delivered over 4 weeks, with follow-up assessments at 3 months post-baseline.
Receives: Behavioral: awareness videos
control groupNo interventionDescription: Students in control schools will not receive the behavioral video intervention during the 3-month study period and will continue their usual school activities. Control group students will receive standard health promotion pamphlets unrelated to SNS behavior (to maintain basic equity of information) if required by school administration. After completion of follow-up data collection (3 months), the intervention package will be offered to control group students (delayed-intervention / wait-list) to ensure ethical fairness and benefit sharing. Timing: No active intervention during the 3-month evaluation window. Post-study access to intervention materials will be provided.

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in Social Networking Site Addiction Score using Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS)

    This outcome will assess the change in social networking site addiction levels among participating adolescents from baseline to 3 months follow-up. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), a validated 6-item self-report tool, will be used to measure addiction severity. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5), yielding a total score range of 6 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater risk of addiction.

    Unit of Measure:

    Score (range 6-30) (Change in total BSMAS score from baseline to 3-month follow-up)

    Measured: from baseline to 3 months post intervention

  2. Readiness to Change Score using the Readiness to Change Questionnaire (SOCRATES - Adapted for SNS use)

    Readiness to change problematic social networking site (SNS) use will be assessed using the SOCRATES (Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale) adapted specifically for SNS behaviors.

    The SOCRATES tool consists of three subscales:

    Recognition - awareness of problematic SNS use

    Ambivalence - uncertainty about behavior change

    Taking Steps - active efforts to reduce problematic SNS use

    Participants respond to Likert-scale items (1-5), and subscale scores are summed to generate total scores for each domain. Higher scores indicate greater readiness and motivation to change SNS-related behaviors.

    Unit of Measure:

    Subscale Score (continuous)

    Recognition Score (range depends on adapted item count)

    Ambivalence Score

    Taking Steps Score

    Measured: intervention for a month and follow-up of 3 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted11 Dec 2025
  2. Study start10 Oct 2025
  3. Primary completion10 Jan 2026
  4. Study completion10 Jan 2026

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
Prevention
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
260 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07277621
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB-3760
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
20 Nov 2025
Last updated
24 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the present study are not publicly available. However, they are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing awareness videos in people with Internet Addiction Disorder, run by Dow University of Health Sciences at 1 site in Pakistan.

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 4 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 24 Feb 2026. 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 Pakistan. 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?

Change in Social Networking Site Addiction Score using Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) (time frame: from baseline to 3 months post intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 24 Feb 2026.

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