Digital Intervention for Problematic Smartphone Use
Kent S, Masterson C, Ali R, Parsons CE, Bewick BM
International journal of environmental research and public health · 29 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Case report (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2021-12-14 · Int J Environ Res Public Health · vol. 18 · issue 24 · p. 13165
- Publisher
- Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
- Cited
- 55 citations · more than 98% of similar papers · 9.9× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 35 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Child Development and Digital Technology · Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- smartphone addiction, digital interventions, mobile application, students, mindfulness, goal setting, personalized feedback, sleep, well-being, screen time, technology addiction
- MeSH
- humans, students, young adult, mobile applications, mindfulness, smartphone, screen time
5 authors
From GB, QA, DK
- Sarah C. Kent · correspondingUniversity of Leeds
- Ciara MastersonUniversity of Leeds
- Raian AliHamad bin Khalifa University
- Christine Elizabeth ParsonsAarhus University
- Bridgette Maree Bewick · correspondingUniversity of Leeds
Abstract
Smartphones have become the primary devices for accessing the online world. The potential for smartphone use to become problematic has come into increasing focus. Students and young adults have been shown to use their smartphones at high rates and may be at risk for problematic use. There is limited research evaluating interventions for problematic smartphone use. The present research aimed to develop and evaluate a digital intervention for problematic smartphone use in a student population. A mixed-method case series design was used. The participants were 10 students with mild-moderate dependency on the online world (measured via a self-report questionnaire). An intervention comprising goal setting, personalised feedback, mindfulness, and behavioural suggestions was delivered via a smartphone application. Time spent on smartphones was measured objectively through the same application. Changes in problematic technology use, wellbeing, mindfulness, and sleep were also evaluated. The findings indicate that the intervention resulted in a reduction in self-reported problematic smartphone use, but not screen time. The findings also indicate that over the course of participation, there was a positive influence on wellbeing, online dependency, mindfulness, and sleep. However, the mechanisms of change could not be determined. The study provides preliminary evidence that a light-touch, smartphone-delivered package is an acceptable and effective intervention for students wishing to better manage their problematic smartphone use.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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