Treatment Modalities for Internet Addiction in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Persuasive strategies in digital interventions to combat internet addiction: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The internet provides valuable benefits in supporting our lives. However, concerns arise regarding internet addiction, a behavioural disorder due to excessive and uncontrolled internet use that has harmful effects on human health and wellbeing. Studies highlighted the potential of digital behaviour change interventions to address health behaviour problems. However, little is known about how and to what extent persuasive strategies can be utilised in digital interventions to combat internet addiction. Accordingly, this systematic review aims to investigate the design and implementation of persuasive strategies in digital interventions to combat internet addiction, including their contexts, features, and outcomes.

METHODS

We searched for peer-reviewed articles from four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, ACM, and PubMed). The Persuasive Systems Design (PSD) model and Behaviour Change Technique (BCT) taxonomy were used to identify persuasive strategies. We included 14 primary studies discussing digital interventions to address the problem and their outcomes.

RESULTS

Four persuasion contexts were identified, including 1) self-management systems to reduce internet use, 2) analytics systems to examine use patterns and provide behavioural suggestions, 3) parental control systems to manage children's internet use, and 4) unattractive settings to discourage internet use. The promising interventions used the following persuasion route: help the user determine behaviour goals, facilitate actions to accomplish behaviour goals, and reinforce the user to perform behaviour goals. Potential persuasive strategies were also identified, including goal-setting, action planning, task reduction, tunnelling how to perform a behaviour, tailored and personalised suggestions/prompts, reminders, trustworthiness, anticipated regret, and social support strategies.

CONCLUSION

Our findings shed light on the promising persuasive contexts and strategies to combat internet addiction using digital interventions. We suggest future research and practices to utilise our findings to develop effective digital interventions, especially for combatting internet addiction in vulnerable populations like children or people from developing regions.

Mindfulness as a Path to Freedom from Internet Addiction in Adolescents: A Narrative Review

In recent years, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) has become a major mental health concern among adolescents, with detrimental effects on social relationships, academic performance, and emotional well-being. The focus of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on improving self-awareness, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility has drawn interest in MBIs as possible therapeutic approaches for treating IAD. The purpose of this narrative review is to investigate how mindfulness interventions affect teenagers who are experiencing IAD. The review summarizes research findings from multiple studies that look at how well MBIs work to promote healthier online behavior, improve mental health outcomes, and cut down on excessive internet use. According to recent research, adolescents who engage in mindfulness practices are better able to control their compulsive internet usage habits, resist impulsive impulses, and spend less time on the internet. Furthermore, mindfulness practices like breathing exercises, body scanning, and meditation may help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, which are the common comorbidities linked to IAD. The review ends by emphasizing the necessity of more research on the long-term impacts of MBIs on IAD, the incorporation of mindfulness into school-based initiatives, and the significance of developing interventions that are specific to the developmental needs of teenagers. All things considered, mindfulness intervention seems like a promising strategy for reducing Internet addiction disorder, but more thorough research is needed to determine its effectiveness and suitability for use in a range of adolescent populations.

Preventive Interventions for Internet Addiction in Young Children: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

In this digital age, children typically start using the internet in early childhood. Studies highlighted that young children are vulnerable to internet addiction due to personal limitations and social influence (eg, family and school). Internet addiction can have long-term harmful effects on children's health and well-being. The high risk of internet addiction for vulnerable populations like young children has raised questions about how best to prevent the problem.

OBJECTIVE

This review study aimed to investigate the existing interventions and explore future directions to prevent or reduce internet addiction risks in children younger than 12 years.

METHODS

The systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. We searched for relevant literature from 4 research databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycINFO). We included 14 primary studies discussing the interventions to prevent or reduce internet addiction risks in young children and their efficacy outcomes.

RESULTS

The preventive interventions identified were categorized into four approaches as follows: (1) children's education, (2) parenting strategy, (3) strategic physical activity, and (4) counseling. Ten interventions showed promising efficacy in preventing or reducing internet addiction risks with small-to-medium effect sizes. Interventions that enhance children's competencies in having appropriate online behaviors and literacy were more likely to show better efficacy than interventions that force children to reduce screen time. Interventions that shift children's focus from online activities to real-world activities also showed promising efficacy in reducing engagement with the internet, thereby preventing addictive behaviors. We also identified the limitations of each approach (eg, temporariness, accessibility, and implementation) as valuable considerations in developing future interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest the need to develop more sustainable and accessible interventions to encourage healthy online behaviors through education, appropriate parenting strategies, and substitutive activities to prevent children's overdependence on the internet. Developing digital tools and social support systems can be beneficial to improve the capability, efficiency, and accessibility of the interventions. Future interventions also need to consider their appropriateness within familial context or culture and provide adequate implementation training. Last, policy makers and experts can also contribute by making design guidelines to prevent digital product developers from making products that can encourage overuse in children.

Digital Interventions for Combating Internet Addiction in Young Children: Qualitative Study of Parent and Therapist Perspectives

BACKGROUND

Internet addiction is an emerging mental health issue in this digital age. Nowadays, children start using the internet in early childhood, thus making them vulnerable to addictive use. Previous studies have reported that the risk of internet addiction tends to be higher in lower-income regions with lower quality of life, such as Indonesia. Indonesia has high risks and prevalence of internet addiction, including in children. Digital interventions have been developed as an option to combat internet addiction in children. However, little is known about what parents and therapists in Indonesia perceive about these types of interventions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the experiences, perceptions, and considerations of parents and therapists regarding digital interventions for combating internet addiction in young Indonesian children.

METHODS

This study used a qualitative exploratory approach through semistructured interviews. We involved 22 parents of children aged 7 to 11 years and 6 experienced internet addiction therapists for children. The interview data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants in this study recognized 3 existing digital interventions to combat internet addiction: Google Family Link, YouTube Kids, and Apple parental control. They perceived that digital interventions could be beneficial in continuously promoting healthy digital behavior in children and supporting parents in supervision. However, the existing interventions were not highly used due to limitations such as the apps' functionality and usability, parental capability, parent-child relationships, cultural incompatibility, and data privacy.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that digital interventions should focus not only on restricting and monitoring screen time but also on suggesting substitutive activities for children, developing children's competencies to combat addictive behavior, improving digital literacy in children and parents, and supporting parental decision-making to promote healthy digital behavior in their children. Suggestions for future digital interventions are provided, such as making the existing features more usable and relatable, investigating gamification features to enhance parental motivation and capability in managing their children's internet use, providing tailored or personalized content to suit users' characteristics, and considering the provision of training and information about the use of interventions and privacy agreements.

Internet Addiction Management: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Interventions and Modalities

Internet addiction is a pervasive and complex issue that has gained increasing attention in the digital age. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth exploration of clinical interventions and modalities for managing internet addiction. It begins by examining the diagnostic criteria and assessment tools used to identify internet addiction, highlighting the diverse subtypes and varying degrees of severity. Subsequently, the review delves into various clinical interventions, including psychotherapeutic approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based interventions. Pharmacological interventions, technology-based tools, and integrative approaches are also thoroughly analyzed. The review also outlines various treatment settings and modalities such as inpatient treatment centers, outpatient clinics, telehealth, support groups, and prevention programs for schools and communities. Furthermore, it discusses the efficacy and challenges associated with managing internet addiction, emphasizing the need for effective interventions, relapse prevention, ethical considerations, and addressing stigma and access barriers. In conclusion, the review offers practical implications for clinical practice. It emphasizes future research's importance in refining diagnostic criteria, exploring emerging technologies, and adapting interventions to an ever-evolving digital landscape. This comprehensive review is a valuable resource for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers seeking to understand and address the complexities of internet addiction.

The Effects of Equine-Assisted Learning on Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder

During the COVID-19 pandemic, internet gaming became more popular as a way to cope with stress, but excessive gaming can lead to mental health issues like internet gaming disorder (IGD). IGD has serious consequences, especially among children and young adults, and the gaming industry's profits continue to grow. This study aims to understand the mental and behavioral health of adolescents with IGD participating in an equine-assisted learning (EAL) program and assess the changes in their addiction tendencies and emotional and behavioral problems. The results showed that the participants' tendency towards internet gaming addiction and emotional and behavioral problems decreased immediately after the EAL program, but they rose again a month later. This suggests the importance of ongoing program involvement. As COVID-19 restrictions ease worldwide, this study highlights the increasing risk of IGD. It suggests that EAL could be a valuable approach to treating behavioral addictions, including gaming addiction. While prior research has shown the effectiveness of EAL in treating substance addiction, more research is needed to explore its potential in treating various types of addictions, such as gambling or gaming addictions.

Internet Addiction, Sleep Habits and Family Communication: The Perspectives of a Sample of Adolescents

BACKGROUND

With the increase in communication technologies, the internet has become an indispensable tool in the life of the individual. Several studies report on the advantages of this resource; however, there is still a group of individuals who use the internet excessively. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between internet addiction, daytime sleepiness, and family communication in adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 340 adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years participated in this study. All completed the sociodemographic questionnaire, the internet addiction test, the pediatric daytime sleepiness scale, and the family communication scale.

RESULTS

The results indicate that 64.1% of the adolescents had mild to moderate addiction to the internet. The main results suggest that internet addiction in adolescents is negatively associated with family communication and positively associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. It was also observed that gender had a significant effect on daytime sleepiness, with female participants having more excessive daytime sleepiness. Regarding age, the results indicate higher values of internet addiction among younger adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

In view of the above, it is considered important to develop preventive actions with a view to healthy family communication, with the adoption of sleep hygiene habits and the promotion of healthy use of the internet.