Interventions for PSU Among College Students

Conditions

• Problematic Smartphone Use

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Self-reflection — BEHAVIORAL
  Participants will be guided to identify goals of daily PSU reduction. o Participants will be guided to actively review their smartphone usage data each day.
• Self-reflection + Contingency management — BEHAVIORAL
  Participants will be guided to identify goals of daily PSU reduction and actively review their smartphone usage data each day. Participants will receive an incentive ($8) if they meet the daily PSU reduction goal.

Study Details

This project proposes to evaluate the feasibility and effects of behavioral intervention strategies on problematic smartphone use among college students. The project proposes to evaluate three behavioral intervention components- self-reflection via actively monitoring phone usage, increasing engagement in non-smartphone activities, and contingency management (i.e., financial incentives) - on short-term and long-term reductions in problematic smartphone use (PSU) among college students. The research team will develop a mobile application, referred to as the app, to collect data on a subject's daily phone usage and activity engagement. The app will comprise three features, with specific sets of features being activated during different phases. * Feature 1: The app will autonomously track the time spent on the apps categorized as social media and gaming. * Feature 2: The app will display the daily amount of usage on social media and gaming apps, with an option for a subject to confirm their acknowledgment of the daily time spent. * Feature 3: The app will display an option for subject to confirm their engagement in the alternative activities as planned.

Key Dates

Start date

Dec 18, 2024

Status verified

May 2026

Primary completion

Jun 30, 2026

Completion

Jun 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

50 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

• Experimental: Self-reflection
  Participants actively review their smartphone usage data each day, which will be verified by the app.
• Experimental: Self-reflection + Contingency management
  Participants will actively review their smartphone usage each day, which will be verified via the app. If the participant meets their daily PSU reduction goal, they will receive an incentive ($8); if they do not meet their goal, they will receive nothing.
• No Intervention: Control
  Participants will not engage in any behavioral intervention strategies

Primary Outcome Measure

Daily smartphone usage data [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]

Locations (1)

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