Improving Digital Wellbeing in Saudi Adolescents
1 other identifier
interventional
2,500
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Background: In Saudi Arabia, the rapid expansion of digital technology use-particularly among adolescents-has raised growing concerns about internet addiction and its impact on mental health and overall wellbeing. Building on formative work including national surveys, stakeholder interviews, and pilot testing, there is now a pressing need to rigorously evaluate interventions that can promote healthy digital habits among youth. Study aims/objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based digital wellbeing intervention, with and without a supplemental parent engagement component, using a cluster randomized controlled trial design. The primary objective is to determine whether exposure to the student curriculum alone or in combination with a parent-focused intervention improves digital literacy, technology use behaviors, and psychosocial wellbeing among high school students. Secondary objectives include assessing changes in parent-child communication and parental attitudes toward digital media use. Methods: Twenty (20) high schools across Qassim and Riyadh regions in Saudi Arabia will be randomly assigned to one of two study arms: (1) treatment as usual (TAU) will receive the Ministry of Education (MOE) Digital Wellbeing Unit that is implemented in 12th grad as part of the Digital Citizenship Curriculum and a brief self-paced online teacher training, or (2) enhanced treatment including the MOE Digital Wellbeing Unit plus a WhatsApp-based intervention for parents and a brief self-paced online teacher training. Approximately 125 students per school (\~2,500 total) will complete surveys before and after the intervention period, assessing digital media habits, wellbeing, and communication patterns. Parent surveys will be administered in the enhanced arm to assess intervention engagement and parenting practices. Surveys with teachers will assess motivation and self-efficacy in delivering the digital wellbeing unit and fidelity of delivery. Results: The study will generate evidence on the efficacy of school- and family-based strategies for improving adolescent digital wellbeing in the Saudi context. It will also provide insight into mechanisms of change, including the role of parental involvement in shaping adolescent digital habits. Conclusion: Findings from this cluster randomized trial will inform national digital wellbeing policy and practice, offering a scalable model for youth-targeted behavioral health interventions in Saudi Arabia and similar settings.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Jan 2026
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
January 7, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
January 15, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
January 25, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 30, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 30, 2026
March 16, 2026
March 1, 2026
5 months
January 7, 2026
March 13, 2026
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Weekday leisure screen-time hours assessed by survey
Weekday (screen time for leisure)
Baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention (1 month)
Secondary Outcomes (14)
Social Media Disorder Scale
Baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention (1 month)
Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-ShortForm (IGDS9-SF)
Baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention (1 month)
Digital wellbeing knowledge 1 assessed by survey
Baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention (1 month)
Digital well-being knowledge 2 assessed by survey
Baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention (1 month)
Digital well-being attitudes assessed by survey
Baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention (1 month)
- +9 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (2)
Treatment as usual
ACTIVE COMPARATOR(1) treatment as usual (TAU) will receive the Ministry of Education (MOE) Digital Wellbeing Unit that is implemented in 12th grade as part of the Digital Citizenship Curriculum and a brief self-paced online teacher training
Enhanced treatment
EXPERIMENTAL(2) enhanced treatment including the MOE Digital Wellbeing Unit plus a WhatsApp-based intervention for parents and a brief self-paced online teacher training.
Interventions
(1) The student component utilizes the existing Digital Wellbeing Unit embedded within the national Digital Citizenship Curriculum, as implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Education. This curriculum is delivered by classroom teachers over the course of approximately one month, typically as part of standard instruction during the academic term. The content focuses on responsible digital media use, online safety, screen time awareness, and strategies for achieving digital balance. All instructional materials and delivery methods align with Ministry guidelines and are integrated into the regular school schedule.
(2) The parental component, developed by the research team, is included in the enhanced intervention arm. It consists of structured engagement through WhatsApp groups formed with parents of students enrolled in the intervention schools. Parents in this group will receive daily messages for the duration of the curriculum delivery (approximately 4 weeks). These messages will include infographics, short expert video lectures, and brief videos designed to reinforce the concepts taught in the student curriculum. Content will focus on promoting healthy digital habits, improving communication between parents and children about technology use, and modeling appropriate digital behaviors at home.
(3) Teachers in both arms will complete a brief self-paced online training (\~45 minutes total) prior to delivering the Digital Wellbeing Unit. The training introduces key digital wellbeing concepts, provides implementation guidance aligned with the Ministry of Education curriculum, and includes resources to support classroom delivery. Completion will be monitored to ensure fidelity across schools.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- The study will include students enrolled in Grade 12 at participating high schools that are randomly assigned to one of the study arms.
- In addition, parents or legal guardians of these students will be eligible to participate in the parent-focused component of the intervention if the student is assigned to the enhanced curriculum group.
You may not qualify if:
- Students and parents will be excluded from the study if the students and parents do not provide assent or consent to participate, in accordance with ethical guidelines.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Sulaiman Al Rahji University
Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Johannes Thrul
Johns Hopkins University
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
January 7, 2026
First Posted
January 15, 2026
Study Start
January 25, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
June 30, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
June 30, 2026
Last Updated
March 16, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-03
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ANALYTIC CODE
- Time Frame
- Supporting information will be shared upon reasonable request.
- Access Criteria
- Supporting information will be shared upon reasonable request.
Data will be shared upon reasonable request.