Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive ReflectionNCT07511374

A Randomized Controlled Ecological Momentary Intervention to Improve Digital Self-Regulation and Well-Being

A study testing Ecological momentary intervention in people with Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive Reflection, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.

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Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts

Official record

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Trial summary

The primary objective of this study is to examine whether an ecological momentary intervention (EMI), combining behavioral self-monitoring (screen time screenshot uploads) and structured reflection, can enhance metacognitive awareness and metacognitive regulation in the context of recreational screen time among young… Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for: Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive Reflection
What is being tested?: Ecological momentary intervention
Type of treatment: Lifestyle or therapy programme
Could I receive a placebo?: No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people: 240 participants
Where: 1 siteHong Kong
Study dates: 1 Mar 2026to 31 Dec 2026
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: Not yet: the study is under way

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 25 years
All sexes
Healthy volunteers accepted
Adult

Who may be able to join

Participants must meet all of the following criteria:
Age between 18 and 25 years old.
Own and regularly use a smartphone.
Report an average daily recreational screen time of at least 3 hours on weekdays or 4 hours on weekends, based on self-report (Zablotsky et al., 2025).
Be able to access their device's built-in screen time tracking function (or equivalent system-level usage report) and upload screenshots when required.
Be willing and able to complete daily surveys throughout the full study period.
Indicate motivation to reduce or regulate their recreational screen use.

Who cannot join

Outside the age range of 18-25 years.
Do not own a smartphone or do not use it regularly.
Report average daily recreational screen time below 3 hours on weekdays and below 4 hours on weekends.
Are unable to access device-based screen time tracking functions or cannot provide valid screenshots when required.
Are unwilling or unable to complete daily surveys across the study period (e.g., anticipated non-compliance, scheduling constraints).
Do not express motivation to reduce or regulate their recreational screen use.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Shiyun Chen, PhD Candidate contact

052-46744938

shiyun.chen@connect.polyu.hk

Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting

The Hong Kong Polythechnic University
Hong Kong, Select An Option…
Shiyun Chen, PhD Candidate, 46744938, shiyun.chen@connect.polyu.hk
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About this study

Official title: Activating Metacognition in Daily Life: A Randomized Controlled Ecological Momentary Intervention to Improve Digital Self-Regulation and Well-Being

A secondary objective is to investigate whether improvements in metacognitive processes are associated with subsequent changes in behavioral and psychological outcomes, including recreational screen time (RST), stress, and life satisfaction.

Furthermore, this study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which the intervention exerts its effects by integrating a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with intensive longitudinal (daily diary) data.

Specifically, the study addresses the following research questions:

RQ1 (Primary Intervention Effect on Metacognition): Does the EMI lead to higher levels of daily metacognitive awareness and metacognitive regulation (planning, monitoring, and evaluation) compared to the control group? RQ2 (Within-person Associations): At the within-person level, do day-to-day fluctuations in metacognitive awareness and regulation predict same-day and next-day changes in recreational screen time, stress, and life satisfaction? RQ3 (Mediating Mechanism): Do increases in metacognitive awareness and regulation mediate the effects of the EMI on recreational screen time, stress, and life satisfaction? RQ4 (Between-person Effects): At the between-person level, do individuals in the intervention group exhibit higher average levels of metacognitive awareness and regulation, as well as lower recreational screen time and stress and higher life satisfaction, compared to those in the control group?

Conditions: Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive Reflection
Being tested: Ecological momentary intervention
Keywords: self-regulation, metacognition-based intervention, reflection, digital ecological momentary intervention
Medical subject headings: Self-Control

What participants receive

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

Ecological momentary interventionBehavioural
A composite ecological momentary intervention that integrates behavioral self-monitoring and metacognitive reflection.
Specifically, each day participants will:
1. Upload a screenshot of their device-recorded screen time (e.g., iOS Screen Time or Android Digital Wellbeing), serving as a form of behavioral self-monitoring.
2. Complete structured reflection prompts designed to activate metacognitive processes, including reflection on: (1) total recreational screen time, (2) usage contexts (e.g., situations or triggers), (3) awareness of potential overuse, and (4) use of regulation strategies (e.g., planning, monitoring, evaluation).

Study groups in NCT07511374
Study group	Role	What they receive
Ecological Momentary Intervention Group	Experimental	Participants in the intervention group will receive a composite ecological momentary intervention that integrates behavioral self-monitoring and metacognitive reflection. Specifically, each day participants will: 1. Upload a screenshot of their device-recorded screen time (e.g., iOS Screen Time or Android Digital Wellbeing), serving as a form of behavioral self-monitoring. 2. Complete structured reflection prompts designed to activate metacognitive processes, including reflection on: (1) total recreational screen time, (2) usage contexts (e.g., situations or triggers), (3) awareness of potential overuse, and (4) use of regulation strategies (e.g., planning, monitoring, evaluation). In addition, participants will complete daily measures of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive regulation, stress, and life satisfaction. Receives: Behavioral: Ecological momentary intervention
Control Group	No intervention	Participants in the control group will complete the same daily diary measures of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive regulation, stress, and life satisfaction, but will not engage in screen time self-monitoring (i.e., no screenshot uploads) and will not receive any structured reflection prompts.

What is being measured

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

Daily Metacognitive Awareness
Daily Metacognitive Awareness assesses the extent to which participants were consciously aware of their motivations and tendencies regarding recreational screen use on that day, which adapted from metacognitive awareness dimension in Metacognition about Regulating Recreational Screen Time Scale (McRST). Sample items include: "Today, I was aware of why I wanted to use my device for recreational purposes." Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater daily metacognitive awareness.
Measured: 14-day dairy
Daily Recreational Screen Time
Daily Recreational Screen Time is assessed using both subjective self-reports and objective device-recorded data in order to enhance measurement validity and reduce recall bias. Recreational screen time is defined as non-work and non-study device use, including activities such as social media browsing, video streaming, gaming, and other entertainment-related engagement.
Measured: 14-day dairy
Metacognitive skills
Metacognitive skills will be assessed using the Metacognition about Regulating Recreational Screen Time Scale (Mc-RST). The scale captures individuals' knowledge, beliefs, and perceived efficacy regarding their ability to regulate recreational screen use. Participants rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating stronger metacognitive awareness and perceived regulatory capacity.
Measured: baseline, day 15 (t1)

Secondary outcomes (10)

Daily Stress
Daily Stress is assessed using brief items adapted to capture day-specific perceived stress. Participants indicate the extent to which statements such as "Today, I felt stressed," "Today, I felt overwhelmed," and "Today, I found it difficult to cope with daily demands" describe their experience. Responses are rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much), with higher scores indicating greater daily stress.
Measured: 14-day dairy
Daily Life Satisfaction
Daily Life Satisfaction captures participants' cognitive evaluation of their day. Participants respond to items such as "Overall, I was satisfied with today," "Today was close to my ideal day," and "I feel positive about how today went." Responses are rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater daily life satisfaction.
Measured: 14-day dairy
Internet addiction
Internet addiction will be measured using the revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R; Bai \& Fan, 2005), which assesses core symptoms and related problems of excessive Internet use, including compulsive use, withdrawal, tolerance, interpersonal difficulties, and time management issues. Participants responded to items based on their experiences over the past year using a 4-point scale, with higher scores indicating greater levels of problematic Internet use.
Measured: baseline, day 15 (t1)
Short-form video addiction
Short-form video addiction will be assessed using the Bergen Short Video Addiction Scale (Qu et al., 2024), which captures key components of addictive behavior, including salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse. Items were rated on a 5-point frequency scale, with higher scores indicating more severe short-form video addiction.
Measured: baseline; day 15(t1)
Depressive symptoms
Depressive symptoms will be measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Leung et al., 2020), which assesses the frequency of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. Each item was rated on a 4-point scale, with higher total scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.
Measured: baseline; day 15(t1)
Anxiety symptoms
Anxiety symptoms will be assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7; He et al., 2010), which evaluates the frequency of anxiety-related symptoms over the past two weeks. Items were rated on a 4-point scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
Measured: baseline; day 15(t1)
Perceived stress
Perceived stress will be measured using the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS; Yang \& Huang, 2003), which assesses the extent to which individuals perceive their lives as unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded. Participants rated items on a 5-point scale, with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.
Measured: baseline; day 15(t1)
Self-control
Self-control will be assessed using the Chinese version of the Self-Control Scale (SCS; Unger et al., 2016), which measures individuals' ability to regulate impulses and maintain goal-directed behavior. Items were rated on a 6-point scale, and higher average scores indicate stronger self-control capacity.
Measured: baseline; day 15(t1)
Life satisfaction
Life satisfaction will be measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener et al., 1985), which assesses global cognitive judgments of one's life satisfaction. Participants rated five items on a 7-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater life satisfaction.
Measured: baseline; day 15(t1)
Fear of missing out (FoMO)
Fear of missing out (FoMO) will be assessed using a validated FoMO scale (Przybylski et al., 2013; Li et al., 2019), which captures individuals' anxiety related to missing rewarding experiences or social interactions. Items were rated on a 5-point scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of FoMO.
Measured: baseline; day 15(t1)

Timeline

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

1 Mar 202631 Dec 2026

First posted6 Apr 2026
Study start1 Mar 2026
Primary completion31 May 2026 (estimated)
Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Publications (17)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
Other trials for Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive ReflectionStudies 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: Prevention
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Model description: The study adopts a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design consisting of three phases: baseline assessment (T0), a 14-day daily diary phase, and post-assessment (T1). Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1 allocation) to either the intervention group (EMI condition) or the control group. During the 14-day period, participants will complete a daily survey each evening (10:00 PM-11:59 PM) via an online platform. Automated reminders will be sent to enhance compliance. Participants in the intervention group will receive a composite ecological momentary intervention that integrates behavioral self-monitoring and metacognitive reflection and complete daily measures of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive regulation, stress, and life satisfaction. Participants in the control group will complete the same daily diary measures of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive regulation, stress, and life satisfaction, but will not engage in screen time self-monitoring.
Masking: None (open label)
Enrolment: 240 participants (estimated)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07511374
Sponsor's protocol ID: HSEARS20241210004-01
Status last verified: Mar 2026
First submitted: 30 Mar 2026
Last updated: 6 Apr 2026
Results posted: No
Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No
Individual data sharing: No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared due to the sensitive nature of the data, which includes detailed daily behavioral records and potentially identifiable digital usage patterns. Although all data will be de-identified, the granularity of longitudinal diary data and screen time records may still pose a risk of re-identification. In addition, data sharing is restricted by institutional ethical approval and participant consent agreements, which limit the use of the data to the current research purposes only. Aggregated data and study materials can be made available upon reasonable request.

Publications

Zhou H, Dang L, Lam LW, Zhang MX, Wu AMS. A cross-lagged panel model for testing the bidirectional relationship between depression and smartphone addiction and the influences of maladaptive metacognition on them in Chinese adolescents. Addict Behav. 2021 Sep;120:106978. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106978. Epub 2021 May 4.
PubMed 33971499
Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Media Use Is Linked to Lower Psychological Well-Being: Evidence from Three Datasets. Psychiatr Q. 2019 Jun;90(2):311-331. doi: 10.1007/s11126-019-09630-7.
PubMed 30859387
Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Oct 18;12:271-283. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003. eCollection 2018 Dec.
PubMed 30406005
Shiffman S, Stone AA, Hufford MR. Ecological momentary assessment. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2008;4:1-32. doi: 10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.3.022806.091415.
PubMed 18509902
Santos RMS, Mendes CG, Sen Bressani GY, de Alcantara Ventura S, de Almeida Nogueira YJ, de Miranda DM, Romano-Silva MA. The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review. BMC Psychol. 2023 Apr 20;11(1):127. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01166-7.
PubMed 37081557
Nahum-Shani I, Smith SN, Spring BJ, Collins LM, Witkiewitz K, Tewari A, Murphy SA. Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) in Mobile Health: Key Components and Design Principles for Ongoing Health Behavior Support. Ann Behav Med. 2018 May 18;52(6):446-462. doi: 10.1007/s12160-016-9830-8.
PubMed 27663578
Madigan S, Browne D, Racine N, Mori C, Tough S. Association Between Screen Time and Children's Performance on a Developmental Screening Test. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Mar 1;173(3):244-250. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5056.
PubMed 30688984
Curran PJ, Bauer DJ. The disaggregation of within-person and between-person effects in longitudinal models of change. Annu Rev Psychol. 2011;62:583-619. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100356.
PubMed 19575624
Howard, S. J., Hayes, N., Mallawaarachchi, S., Johnson, D., Neilsen-Hewett, C., Mackenzie, J., ... & White, S. L. (2025). A meta-analysis of self-regulation and digital recreation from birth to adolescence. Computers in Human Behavior, 163, 108472.
Heron KE, Smyth JM. Ecological momentary interventions: incorporating mobile technology into psychosocial and health behaviour treatments. Br J Health Psychol. 2010 Feb;15(Pt 1):1-39. doi: 10.1348/135910709X466063. Epub 2009 Jul 28.
PubMed 19646331
Haddock A, Ward N, Yu R, O'Dea N. Positive Effects of Digital Technology Use by Adolescents: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 27;19(21):14009. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114009.
PubMed 36360887
Flavell, J. H. (1979). Metacognition and cognitive monitoring: A new area of cognitive-developmental inquiry. American Psychologist, 34(10), 906-911. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.34.10.906
Ellis, D. A., Davidson, B. I., Shaw, H., & Geyer, K. (2019). Do smartphone usage scales predict behavior? International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 130, 86-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2019.05.004
Donati MA, Padovani M, Iozzi A, Primi C. Prevention of problematic smartphone use among adolescents: A preliminary study to investigate the efficacy of an intervention based on the metacognitive model. Addict Behav. 2025 Jul;166:108332. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108332. Epub 2025 Mar 19.
PubMed 40120187
Common Sense Media. (2015). The Common Sense census: Media use by tweens and teens. Common Sense Media.

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Activating Metacognition in Daily Life: A Randomized Controlled Ecological Momentary Intervention to Improve Digital Self-Regulation and Well-Being
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07511374
Acronym / sponsor ID: HSEARS20241210004-01
Conditions: Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive Reflection
Keywords: self-regulation, metacognition-based intervention, reflection, digital ecological momentary intervention
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Recruiting
Enrolment: 240 participants (estimated)
Lead sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
Study start: 1 Mar 2026 (actual)
Primary completion: 31 May 2026 (estimated)
Study completion: 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
First posted: 6 Apr 2026 (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.

Specifically, the study addresses the following research questions:

Study design

Primary purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: None (open label)
Number of arms: 2
Model description: The study adopts a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design consisting of three phases: baseline assessment (T0), a 14-day daily diary phase, and post-assessment (T1). Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1 allocation) to either the intervention group (EMI condition) or the control group. During the 14-day period, participants will complete a daily survey each evening (10:00 PM-11:59 PM) via an online platform. Automated reminders will be sent to enhance compliance. Participants in the intervention group will receive a composite ecological momentary intervention that integrates behavioral self-monitoring and metacognitive reflection and complete daily measures of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive regulation, stress, and life satisfaction. Participants in the control group will complete the same daily diary measures of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive regulation, stress, and life satisfaction, but will not engage in screen time self-monitoring.

Arm	Type	Receives
Ecological Momentary Intervention Group	Experimental	Behavioral: Ecological momentary interventionParticipants in the intervention group will receive a composite ecological momentary intervention that integrates behavioral self-monitoring and metacognitive reflection. Specifically, each day participants will: 1. Upload a screenshot of their device-recorded screen time (e.g., iOS Screen Time or Android Digital Wellbeing), serving as a form of behavioral self-monitoring. 2. Complete structured reflection prompts designed to activate metacognitive processes, including reflection on: (1) total recreational screen time, (2) usage contexts (e.g., situations or triggers), (3) awareness of potential overuse, and (4) use of regulation strategies (e.g., planning, monitoring, evaluation). In addition, participants will complete daily measures of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive regulation, stress, and life satisfaction.
Control Group	No intervention	–Participants in the control group will complete the same daily diary measures of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive regulation, stress, and life satisfaction, but will not engage in screen time self-monitoring (i.e., no screenshot uploads) and will not receive any structured reflection prompts.

Who may qualify

Ages: 18 to 25 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Accepted
Age groups: Adult

Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)

Age between 18 and 25 years old.
Own and regularly use a smartphone.
Report an average daily recreational screen time of at least 3 hours on weekdays or 4 hours on weekends, based on self-report (Zablotsky et al., 2025).
Be able to access their device's built-in screen time tracking function (or equivalent system-level usage report) and upload screenshots when required.
Be willing and able to complete daily surveys throughout the full study period.

Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)

Outside the age range of 18-25 years.
Do not own a smartphone or do not use it regularly.
Report average daily recreational screen time below 3 hours on weekdays and below 4 hours on weekends.
Are unable to access device-based screen time tracking functions or cannot provide valid screenshots when required.
Are unwilling or unable to complete daily surveys across the study period (e.g., anticipated non-compliance, scheduling constraints).

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
Ecological momentary interventionA composite ecological momentary intervention that integrates behavioral self-monitoring and metacognitive reflection. Specifically, each day participants will: 1. Upload a screenshot of their device-recorded screen time (e.g., iOS Screen Time or Android Digital Wellbeing), serving as a form of behavioral self-monitoring. 2. Complete structured reflection prompts designed to activate metacognitive processes, including reflection on: (1) total recreational screen time, (2) usage contexts (e.g., situations or triggers), (3) awareness of potential overuse, and (4) use of regulation strategies (e.g., planning, monitoring, evaluation).	Behavioural	Ecological Momentary Intervention Group

Primary outcome

Daily Metacognitive Awareness
Time frame: 14-day dairy
Daily Metacognitive Awareness assesses the extent to which participants were consciously aware of their motivations and tendencies regarding recreational screen use on that day, which adapted from metacognitive awareness dimension in Metacognition about Regulating Recreational Screen Time Scale (McRST). Sample items include: "Today, I was aware of why I wanted to use my device for recreational purposes." Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater daily metacognitive awareness.
Daily Recreational Screen Time
Time frame: 14-day dairy
Daily Recreational Screen Time is assessed using both subjective self-reports and objective device-recorded data in order to enhance measurement validity and reduce recall bias. Recreational screen time is defined as non-work and non-study device use, including activities such as social media browsing, video streaming, gaming, and other entertainment-related engagement.
Metacognitive skills
Time frame: baseline, day 15 (t1)
Metacognitive skills will be assessed using the Metacognition about Regulating Recreational Screen Time Scale (Mc-RST). The scale captures individuals' knowledge, beliefs, and perceived efficacy regarding their ability to regulate recreational screen use. Participants rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating stronger metacognitive awareness and perceived regulatory capacity.

10 secondary outcomes

Daily Stress
Time frame: 14-day dairy
Daily Life Satisfaction
Time frame: 14-day dairy
Internet addiction
Time frame: baseline, day 15 (t1)
Short-form video addiction
Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)
Depressive symptoms
Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)
Anxiety symptoms
Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)
Perceived stress
Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)
Self-control
Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)
Life satisfaction
Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)
Fear of missing out (FoMO)
Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)

Results and safety

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Apr 2026.
Background: PubMed 33971499Zhou H, Dang L, Lam LW, Zhang MX, Wu AMS. A cross-lagged panel model for testing the bidirectional relationship between depression and smartphone addiction and the influences of maladaptive metacognition on them in Chinese adolescents. Addict Behav. 2021 Sep;120:106978. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106978. Epub 2021 May 4.
Background: PubMed 30859387Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Media Use Is Linked to Lower Psychological Well-Being: Evidence from Three Datasets. Psychiatr Q. 2019 Jun;90(2):311-331. doi: 10.1007/s11126-019-09630-7.
Background: PubMed 30406005Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Oct 18;12:271-283. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003. eCollection 2018 Dec.
Background: PubMed 18509902Shiffman S, Stone AA, Hufford MR. Ecological momentary assessment. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2008;4:1-32. doi: 10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.3.022806.091415.
Background: PubMed 37081557Santos RMS, Mendes CG, Sen Bressani GY, de Alcantara Ventura S, de Almeida Nogueira YJ, de Miranda DM, Romano-Silva MA. The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review. BMC Psychol. 2023 Apr 20;11(1):127. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01166-7.
Background: PubMed 27663578Nahum-Shani I, Smith SN, Spring BJ, Collins LM, Witkiewitz K, Tewari A, Murphy SA. Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) in Mobile Health: Key Components and Design Principles for Ongoing Health Behavior Support. Ann Behav Med. 2018 May 18;52(6):446-462. doi: 10.1007/s12160-016-9830-8.
Background: PubMed 30688984Madigan S, Browne D, Racine N, Mori C, Tough S. Association Between Screen Time and Children's Performance on a Developmental Screening Test. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Mar 1;173(3):244-250. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5056.
Background: PubMed 19575624Curran PJ, Bauer DJ. The disaggregation of within-person and between-person effects in longitudinal models of change. Annu Rev Psychol. 2011;62:583-619. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100356.
BackgroundHoward, S. J., Hayes, N., Mallawaarachchi, S., Johnson, D., Neilsen-Hewett, C., Mackenzie, J., ... & White, S. L. (2025). A meta-analysis of self-regulation and digital recreation from birth to adolescence. Computers in Human Behavior, 163, 108472.
Background: PubMed 19646331Heron KE, Smyth JM. Ecological momentary interventions: incorporating mobile technology into psychosocial and health behaviour treatments. Br J Health Psychol. 2010 Feb;15(Pt 1):1-39. doi: 10.1348/135910709X466063. Epub 2009 Jul 28.
Background: PubMed 36360887Haddock A, Ward N, Yu R, O'Dea N. Positive Effects of Digital Technology Use by Adolescents: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 27;19(21):14009. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114009.
BackgroundFlavell, J. H. (1979). Metacognition and cognitive monitoring: A new area of cognitive-developmental inquiry. American Psychologist, 34(10), 906-911. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.34.10.906
Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared due to the sensitive nature of the data, which includes detailed daily behavioral records and potentially identifiable digital usage patterns. Although all data will be de-identified, the granularity of longitudinal diary data and screen time records may still pose a risk of re-identification. In addition, data sharing is restricted by institutional ethical approval and participant consent agreements, which limit the use of the data to the current research purposes only. Aggregated data and study materials can be made available upon reasonable request.

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.

Shiyun Chen, PhD Candidate contact

052-46744938

shiyun.chen@connect.polyu.hk

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Ecological momentary intervention in people with Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive Reflection, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.

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 7 inclusion and 6 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Apr 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 Hong Kong. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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

Contact Shiyun Chen, PhD Candidate (052-46744938, shiyun.chen@connect.polyu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Daily Metacognitive Awareness (time frame: 14-day dairy). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT07511374, which also lists 17 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 6 Apr 2026.