4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction4-STEP-TPSNCT07564115
The Effectiveness of 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) and Psychological Problems Among Adolescence
A study testing 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) in people with 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction, run by Government College University Faisalabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This study evaluates the effectiveness of the 4-STEP Training Program in reducing social media addiction and improving psychological well-being among adolescents. Increasing use of social media has been linked with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep problems, low self-esteem, and reduced academic performance… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 13 to 18 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction
- What is being tested?
- 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 20 May 2026to 2 Sep 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 13 to 18 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Adolescents aged 13-18 years
- Individuals reporting moderate to high levels of social media addiction (based on standardized scale cut-off, e.g., BSMAS/SNAS)
- Regular social media users with an average daily usage of 4 hours or more
- Willingness to participate with informed consent and parental consent
Who cannot join
- Adolescents who do not meet the inclusion criteria
- Diagnosed with severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., psychosis, severe depression)
- Currently receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment for addiction-related problems
- Presence of serious physical or neurological conditions
- Individuals who are not regular social media users
- Participants who fail to complete pre-test or post-test assessments
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Qasir Abbas Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology contact
Fazilat mehmood Fazilat mehmood, MS Clinical Psychology contact
Pakistan1 site
Government College University Faisalabad
Faisalabad, Punjab Province, 38000
Qasir Abbas QasirAbbas, PhD Clinical Psychology, 923337683133 ext. 10245, drqasirabbas@gcuf.edu.pk
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of 4-Step-Training Program for Social Media Addiction(4-STEP-TPS) and Psychological Problems Among Adolescence: A Randomezed Control Trial.
This study evaluates the effectiveness of the 4-STEP Training Program in reducing social media addiction and improving psychological well-being among adolescents. Increasing use of social media has been linked with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep problems, low self-esteem, and reduced academic performance, particularly among adolescents who are more vulnerable to social comparison, fear of missing out, and reliance on online validation. To address this issue, a structured intervention integrating psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and relapse prevention strategies is implemented. The study will involve adolescents aged 13-18 years from private schools and colleges, selected based on standardized cut-off scores for social media addiction and low flourishing. The effectiveness of the program will be assessed by comparing experimental and control groups using validated psychological measures. It is expected that the intervention will significantly reduce social media addiction and psychological distress while improving emotional regulation, flourishing, and academic functioning.
Read the detailed description
The present study focuses on the growing concern of social media addiction among adolescents and its associated psychological consequences. In this research the study will be conducted on adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from selected private schools and colleges. A sample of approximately N=120 participants initially enrolled and will be screened out using standardized criteria, including scores above the cut-off on the Social Networking Addiction Scale and below the cut-off on the Secure Flourish Index. After eligibility assessment and screening based on standardised measure N=80 participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving the intervention or a waitlist control group. Data will be collected using validated psychological scales measuring social media addiction, flourishing, anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue, insomnia, family relationships, and academic productivity.
The effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention outcomes between the two groups using statistical analysis. It is expected that the 4-STEP Training Program will significantly reduce problematic social media use and psychological distress while enhancing emotional regulation, psychological well-being, academic engagement, and overall functioning among adolescents. This study is intended to contribute to the development of practical, structured, and evidence-based interventions for managing social media addiction in youth populations.
To address this growing issue, the study introduces the 4-STEP Training Program, a structured and evidence-based intervention designed to reduce social media addiction and improve psychological functioning. The program integrates four key components: screening and psychoeducation, treatment planning and cognitive-behavioral strategies, effective behavioral management techniques, and relapse prevention. These components aim to help adolescents identify maladaptive thoughts and behaviors related to social media use, develop healthier coping strategies, and build long-term self-regulation skills.
- Being tested
- 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)
- Keywords
- 4-STEP-Training Program,Social Networkong, Flourishing, Insomnia, Fatigue, Psychological Problems
- Medical subject headings
- Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)Behavioural
The 4-STEP Training Program (4-STEP-TPS) is distinguished from existing interventions by its structured, multi-component, and individualized approach specifically designed for adolescent social media addiction. Unlike traditional interventions that often rely on a single method such as psychoeducation or cognitive-behavioral therapy alone, this program integrates psychoeducation, case conceptualization, cognitive-behavioral techniques, self-regulation strategies, and relapse prevention within a sequential four-step framework. It is delivered on an individual basis, allowing personalized goal-setting and intervention planning according to each participant's social media use patterns and psychological needs. Additionally, the program incorporates continuous self-monitoring and behavioral tracking to enhance awareness and control over usage behaviors. Another key feature is its holistic focus, addressing not only addiction but also related outcomes such as psychological distress, sleep pr
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Arm ( 1-Experimental) | Experimental | Participants in the experimental group will receive the 4-STEP Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS). The intervention consists of four sequential phases: (1) screening, assessment, and psychoeducation, (2) treatment conceptualization and planning, (3) effective management strategies including cognitive-behavioral and self-regulation techniques, and (4) relapse prevention. Each phase includes structured sessions (90 minutes each) delivered over a period of four weeks in an individualized format. The program aims to reduce social media addiction and improve psychological well-being, sleep patterns, and academic functioning. Receives: Behavioral: 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) |
| 2nd Arm ( Waitlist Control Condition ) | No intervention | Participants in the waitlist control group will not receive the intervention during the study period. They will continue their routine activities without any structured treatment. However, after completion of the study and post-assessment, they will be offered the 4-STEP Training Program. This group serves as a comparison to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS, Shahnawaz & Rehman, 2020)
The Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS) was developed to measure addiction of all forms of social networking across six-dimensions salience (items 1-4), mood modification (items 5-7), tolerance (items 8-10), withdrawal (items 11-14), conflict (item 1517), and relapse (items 18-21) (Shahnawaz \& Rehman, 2020). The SNAS is a 21-item self-reported scale rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The score can range from 21 to 147. Any total score above 84 indicates addiction. The scale has demonstrated good test-retest reliability (0.88) and good validity, as reported by Shahnawaz and Rehman (2020).
Measured: At Screening , after 4 weeks, and re-assessment upto 6-months
Secure Flourish Index (SFI, Weziak-Bialowolska et al., 2017)
The Secure Flourish Index (SFI) was developed to measure long-term flourishing across 6 domains happiness and life satisfaction (items 1-2), physical and mental health (items 3-4), meaning and purpose (items 5-6), character and virtue (items 7-8), close social relationships (items 9-10), and financial and material stability (items 11-12) (WeziakBialowolska et al., 2017). It is a self-report scale with 2 items per domain, totaling 12 items, rated on a 0-10 scale. Total scores range from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating greater flourishing. It has an internal consistency of 0.85 and good construct validity (Weziak-Bialowolska et al., 2017).
Measured: At Screening after 4 weeks and reassessment upto 6 months
Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS, Michielsen et al., 2003)
The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) was developed to evaluate the physical and mental symptoms of fatigue (Michielsen et al., 2003). It is a self-report measure with 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). The scale has 2 subscales: mental fatigue, measured by the sum of items 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9, and physical fatigue, measured by the sum of items 1, 2, 4, 5, and 10. Items 4 and 10 are reverse-scored. The total scores range from 10 (lowest level of fatigue) to 50 (highest level of fatigue). The scale has an internal consistency of 0.90 and good validity (Michielsen et al., 2003).
Measured: At Screening, after 4, weeks and re-assessment upto 6-months
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI, Bastien et al., 2001)
The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was developed as a screening measure for insomnia as well as an outcome measure in treatment research (Bastien et al., 2001). It is a self-report measure with 7 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 4. The total score ranges from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating more severe insomnia symptoms. Although not validated, the developers suggest cutoff scores to be used for interpretation, with total scores of 0-7 indicating "no clinically significant insomnia," scores between 8-14 indicating "subthreshold insomnia," scores between 15-21 indicating "clinical insomnia (moderate severity)," and scores in the range 22-28 indicating "clinical insomnia (severe)." The scale has an internal consistency of 0.74 (Bastien et al., 2001).
Measured: At Screening , after 4 weeks, and re-assessment upto 6-months
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS, Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)
The DASS-21 is the shortened version of the DASS-42 and was designed to measure the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (Lovibond \& Lovibond, 1995). It is a self-report measure with 21 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0-3). Each of the three DASS-21 scales, depression (items 3, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17, 21), anxiety (items 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19, 20), and stress (items 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 18), contains 7 items. The scale has good internal consistency and construct validity in both clinical and non-clinical samples (Antony et al., 1998). Scores on the DASS-21 must be multiplied by 2 to obtain the final score. After obtaining the final score for each depression, anxiety, and stress, the final score is compared to the recommended cut-off scores for severity labels (normal, moderate, severe).
Measured: At Screening, after 4 week and re-assessment upto 6 months
The Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS, Fok, Allen, Henry, 2014)
The Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS) was proposed and validated by Fok, Allen, Henry, and the People Awakening Team (2014). This 16-item instrument was specifically adapted from the Relationship dimension of the original Family Environment Scale (FES) developed by Moos and Moos (1994). By refining the original 27-item. By developing a 16-item measure of the relationship dimension, the authors provided a practical and efficient way to assess three core components of family functioning: Cohesion, Expressiveness, and Conflict. This scale is particularly valued in research involving adolescent populations, as it offers a reliable assessment of the family environment while remaining brief enough for use in large-scale community and clinical studies (Fok et al., 2014; Moos \& Moos, 1994).
Measured: After Screening, 4 weeks and re-asessment upto 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 May 2026
- Study start20 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion25 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion2 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media 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
- The present study will be based on an experimental research model using a pre-test-post-test control group design to evaluate the effectiveness of the 4-STEP Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS). In this model, the independent variable will be the 4-STEP Training Program, while the dependent variables will include social media addiction, psychological well-being (flourishing), depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue, insomnia, family relationships, and academic productivity.Adolescents will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which will receive the intervention, or a waitlist control group, which will not receive the intervention during the study period. Both groups will be assessed at pre-test (before the intervention) and post-test (after the intervention) to examine changes over time. The model will assume that participation in the 4-STEP program will lead to a reduction in social media addiction and psychological distress, along with improvements
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Government College University Faisalabad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Qasir Abbas, Government College University Faisalabad
- Investigators
- Qasir Abbas Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology, Principal investigator, Government College University Faisalabad
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07564115
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GCUF.FS.TPS
- Acronym
- 4-STEP-TPS
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 4 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of 4-Step-Training Program for Social Media Addiction(4-STEP-TPS) and Psychological Problems Among Adolescence: A Randomezed Control Trial.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07564115
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 4-STEP-TPS / GCUF.FS.TPS
- Keywords
- 4-STEP-Training Program,Social Networkong, Flourishing, Insomnia, Fatigue, Psychological Problems
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Government College University FaisalabadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 25 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 2 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 May 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.
This study evaluates the effectiveness of the 4-STEP Training Program in reducing social media addiction and improving psychological well-being among adolescents. Increasing use of social media has been linked with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep problems, low self-esteem, and reduced academic performance, particularly among adolescents who are more vulnerable to social comparison, fear of missing out, and reliance on online validation. To address this issue, a structured intervention integrating psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and relapse prevention strategies is implemented. The study will involve adolescents aged 13-18 years from private schools and colleges, selected based on standardized cut-off scores for social media addiction and low flourishing. The effectiveness of the program will be assessed by comparing experimental and control groups using validated psychological measures. It is expected that the intervention will significantly reduce social media addiction and psychological distress while improving emotional regulation, flourishing, and academic functioning.
Detailed description
The present study focuses on the growing concern of social media addiction among adolescents and its associated psychological consequences. In this research the study will be conducted on adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from selected private schools and colleges. A sample of approximately N=120 participants initially enrolled and will be screened out using standardized criteria, including scores above the cut-off on the Social Networking Addiction Scale and below the cut-off on the Secure Flourish Index. After eligibility assessment and screening based on standardised measure N=80 participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving the intervention or a waitlist control group. Data will be collected using validated psychological scales measuring social media addiction, flourishing, anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue, insomnia, family relationships, and academic productivity.
The effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention outcomes between the two groups using statistical analysis. It is expected that the 4-STEP Training Program will significantly reduce problematic social media use and psychological distress while enhancing emotional regulation, psychological well-being, academic engagement, and overall functioning among adolescents. This study is intended to contribute to the development of practical, structured, and evidence-based interventions for managing social media addiction in youth populations.
To address this growing issue, the study introduces the 4-STEP Training Program, a structured and evidence-based intervention designed to reduce social media addiction and improve psychological functioning. The program integrates four key components: screening and psychoeducation, treatment planning and cognitive-behavioral strategies, effective behavioral management techniques, and relapse prevention. These components aim to help adolescents identify maladaptive thoughts and behaviors related to social media use, develop healthier coping strategies, and build long-term self-regulation skills.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The present study will be based on an experimental research model using a pre-test-post-test control group design to evaluate the effectiveness of the 4-STEP Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS). In this model, the independent variable will be the 4-STEP Training Program, while the dependent variables will include social media addiction, psychological well-being (flourishing), depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue, insomnia, family relationships, and academic productivity.Adolescents will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which will receive the intervention, or a waitlist control group, which will not receive the intervention during the study period. Both groups will be assessed at pre-test (before the intervention) and post-test (after the intervention) to examine changes over time. The model will assume that participation in the 4-STEP program will lead to a reduction in social media addiction and psychological distress, along with improvements
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Arm ( 1-Experimental) | Experimental | Behavioral: 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)Participants in the experimental group will receive the 4-STEP Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS). The intervention consists of four sequential phases: (1) screening, assessment, and psychoeducation, (2) treatment conceptualization and planning, (3) effective management strategies including cognitive-behavioral and self-regulation techniques, and (4) relapse prevention. Each phase includes structured sessions (90 minutes each) delivered over a period of four weeks in an individualized format. The program aims to reduce social media addiction and improve psychological well-being, sleep patterns, and academic functioning. |
| 2nd Arm ( Waitlist Control Condition ) | No intervention | –Participants in the waitlist control group will not receive the intervention during the study period. They will continue their routine activities without any structured treatment. However, after completion of the study and post-assessment, they will be offered the 4-STEP Training Program. This group serves as a comparison to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 13 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Adolescents aged 13-18 years
- Individuals reporting moderate to high levels of social media addiction (based on standardized scale cut-off, e.g., BSMAS/SNAS)
- Regular social media users with an average daily usage of 4 hours or more
- Willingness to participate with informed consent and parental consent
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Adolescents who do not meet the inclusion criteria
- Diagnosed with severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., psychosis, severe depression)
- Currently receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment for addiction-related problems
- Presence of serious physical or neurological conditions
- Individuals who are not regular social media users
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)The 4-STEP Training Program (4-STEP-TPS) is distinguished from existing interventions by its structured, multi-component, and individualized approach specifically designed for adolescent social media addiction. Unlike traditional interventions that often rely on a single method such as psychoeducation or cognitive-behavioral therapy alone, this program integrates psychoeducation, case conceptualization, cognitive-behavioral techniques, self-regulation strategies, and relapse prevention within a sequential four-step framework. It is delivered on an individual basis, allowing personalized goal-setting and intervention planning according to each participant's social media use patterns and psychological needs. Additionally, the program incorporates continuous self-monitoring and behavioral tracking to enhance awareness and control over usage behaviors. Another key feature is its holistic focus, addressing not only addiction but also related outcomes such as psychological distress, sleep pr | Behavioural | 1st Arm ( 1-Experimental) |
Primary outcome
Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS, Shahnawaz & Rehman, 2020)
Time frame: At Screening , after 4 weeks, and re-assessment upto 6-months
The Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS) was developed to measure addiction of all forms of social networking across six-dimensions salience (items 1-4), mood modification (items 5-7), tolerance (items 8-10), withdrawal (items 11-14), conflict (item 1517), and relapse (items 18-21) (Shahnawaz \& Rehman, 2020). The SNAS is a 21-item self-reported scale rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The score can range from 21 to 147. Any total score above 84 indicates addiction. The scale has demonstrated good test-retest reliability (0.88) and good validity, as reported by Shahnawaz and Rehman (2020).
Secure Flourish Index (SFI, Weziak-Bialowolska et al., 2017)
Time frame: At Screening after 4 weeks and reassessment upto 6 months
The Secure Flourish Index (SFI) was developed to measure long-term flourishing across 6 domains happiness and life satisfaction (items 1-2), physical and mental health (items 3-4), meaning and purpose (items 5-6), character and virtue (items 7-8), close social relationships (items 9-10), and financial and material stability (items 11-12) (WeziakBialowolska et al., 2017). It is a self-report scale with 2 items per domain, totaling 12 items, rated on a 0-10 scale. Total scores range from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating greater flourishing. It has an internal consistency of 0.85 and good construct validity (Weziak-Bialowolska et al., 2017).
Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS, Michielsen et al., 2003)
Time frame: At Screening, after 4, weeks and re-assessment upto 6-months
The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) was developed to evaluate the physical and mental symptoms of fatigue (Michielsen et al., 2003). It is a self-report measure with 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). The scale has 2 subscales: mental fatigue, measured by the sum of items 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9, and physical fatigue, measured by the sum of items 1, 2, 4, 5, and 10. Items 4 and 10 are reverse-scored. The total scores range from 10 (lowest level of fatigue) to 50 (highest level of fatigue). The scale has an internal consistency of 0.90 and good validity (Michielsen et al., 2003).
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI, Bastien et al., 2001)
Time frame: At Screening , after 4 weeks, and re-assessment upto 6-months
The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was developed as a screening measure for insomnia as well as an outcome measure in treatment research (Bastien et al., 2001). It is a self-report measure with 7 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 4. The total score ranges from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating more severe insomnia symptoms. Although not validated, the developers suggest cutoff scores to be used for interpretation, with total scores of 0-7 indicating "no clinically significant insomnia," scores between 8-14 indicating "subthreshold insomnia," scores between 15-21 indicating "clinical insomnia (moderate severity)," and scores in the range 22-28 indicating "clinical insomnia (severe)." The scale has an internal consistency of 0.74 (Bastien et al., 2001).
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS, Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)
Time frame: At Screening, after 4 week and re-assessment upto 6 months
The DASS-21 is the shortened version of the DASS-42 and was designed to measure the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (Lovibond \& Lovibond, 1995). It is a self-report measure with 21 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0-3). Each of the three DASS-21 scales, depression (items 3, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17, 21), anxiety (items 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19, 20), and stress (items 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 18), contains 7 items. The scale has good internal consistency and construct validity in both clinical and non-clinical samples (Antony et al., 1998). Scores on the DASS-21 must be multiplied by 2 to obtain the final score. After obtaining the final score for each depression, anxiety, and stress, the final score is compared to the recommended cut-off scores for severity labels (normal, moderate, severe).
The Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS, Fok, Allen, Henry, 2014)
Time frame: After Screening, 4 weeks and re-asessment upto 6 months
The Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS) was proposed and validated by Fok, Allen, Henry, and the People Awakening Team (2014). This 16-item instrument was specifically adapted from the Relationship dimension of the original Family Environment Scale (FES) developed by Moos and Moos (1994). By refining the original 27-item. By developing a 16-item measure of the relationship dimension, the authors provided a practical and efficient way to assess three core components of family functioning: Cohesion, Expressiveness, and Conflict. This scale is particularly valued in research involving adolescent populations, as it offers a reliable assessment of the family environment while remaining brief enough for use in large-scale community and clinical studies (Fok et al., 2014; Moos \& Moos, 1994).
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 4 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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.
Qasir Abbas Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology contact
Fazilat mehmood Fazilat mehmood, MS Clinical Psychology contact
Qasir Abbas Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology principal investigator
Government College University Faisalabad
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) in people with 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction, run by Government College University Faisalabad 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 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 May 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?
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 Qasir Abbas Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology (923337683133 ext. 10245, drqasirabbas@gcuf.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS, Shahnawaz & Rehman, 2020) (time frame: At Screening , after 4 weeks, and re-assessment upto 6-months). The study lists 6 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 4 May 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 31 Oct 2026.