4-STEP-Training Program for Doomscrolling, Cyberchondriac Behavior and Psychiatric Symptoms (4-STEP-TPS) Among Individuals With Social Media Addiction

NCT07663708 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: GCUF_CT_STP
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of the 4-Step Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) in reducing social media addiction, doomscrolling, cyberchondriac behavior, depressive symptoms, and health anxiety among young adults. The study aims to promote healthier digital habits, psychological well-being, and improved daily functioning. Participants with elevated social media addiction will complete a 4-week intervention with one session per week. They will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a waitlist control group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be conducted to determine the program's effectiveness.

Conditions

Doomscrolling; Cyberchondriac Behavior; Social Media Addiction

Keywords

4-Step Training Program; Social Media Addiction; Doomscrolling; Cyberchondriac Behavior; Depressive Symptoms; Health Anxiety; Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS)

  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 15-17), and relapse (items 18-21) (Shahnawaz \& Rehman, 2020). The SNAS is a self-reported scale which entails 21-items scale rated on 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The score can range from 21 to 147. Any score above a total score of 84 signifies addiction. The scale has demonstrated good test-retest reliability of 0.88 and good validity as reported by Shahnawaz and Rehman (2020).

  At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months

• Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12)

  The Cyberchondria Severity Scale-12 (CSS-12), developed by Eoin McElroy et al. (2019), is a 12-item self-report measure assessing excessive, anxiety-provoking online health searches across four dimensions: compulsion, distress, excessiveness, and reassurance-seeking. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Never to 5 = Always), with total scores ranging from 12-60; higher scores indicate greater cyberchondria. The scale is brief, reliable, and valid, suitable for both clinical and non-clinical populations, and widely used to evaluate problematic health-related online behavior.

  At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months

• Doomscrolling Scale (DS)

  The Doomscrolling Scale was developed to assess compulsive engagement with negative online news content and excessive scrolling behavior, particularly during times of crisis (Sharma et al., 2022). The scale measures three core dimensions: obsessive news consumption, emotional distress, and behavioral compulsion. It is a self-report instrument consisting of 15 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). The total score is calculated by summing all item responses, with higher scores indicating greater levels of doomscrolling behavior. The scale has demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.88) and satisfactory construct validity (Sharma et al., 2022).

  At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months

• Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI)

  The Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) was developed to assess health-related anxiety and preoccupation with physical symptoms, independent of actual medical status (Salkovskis et al., 2002). The scale measures two main dimensions: perceived likelihood of illness and perceived negative consequences of illness. It is a self-report instrument consisting of 18 items, each presenting four response options scored from 0 to 3, reflecting increasing levels of health anxiety. Total scores range from 0 to 54, with higher scores indicating greater levels of health anxiety. The SHAI has demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with reported Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.86 to 0.95, and strong convergent and construct validity. The HAI is a reliable and valid measure of health anxiety (Salkovskis et al., 2002).

  At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months

• Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

  The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was developed to measure the severity of depressive symptoms based on the diagnostic criteria of major depressive disorder (Kroenke et al., 2001). The scale assesses nine core symptoms of depression, including low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, concentration difficulties, feelings of worthlessness, psychomotor changes, and suicidal ideation. The PHQ-9 is a self-report instrument consisting of 9 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) is a self-administered version of the PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders(The PHQ-9 - Kroenke - 2001 - Journal of General Internal Medicine - Wiley Online Library, 2001).

  At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group: Individual Setting

EXPERIMENTAL

4-STEP-Training Program in 1-1 Setting

Behavioral: 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

No Intervention

Interventions

4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) BEHAVIORAL

4 Modules with 1 Module being delivered in 1 weekly session of approximately 90 minutes. The details of each module/step is described as follows: Step 1 (Module 1): S = Screening, Assessment and Psychoeducation: Involves screening and assessment of the problem, interpretation of the results, feedback and psychoeducation, identifying and breaking the resistance, motivation, and conceptualization. Step 2 (Module 2): T = Treatment Conceptualization and Planning: Involves pattern identification, distortion identification, as well as pattern and distortions modifications. Step 3 (Module 3): E = Effective Management Strategies: Involves management strategies to treat the earlier identified patterns as well as the implementation and confirmation of activities via a Pattern Schedule Chart. Step 4 (Module 4): P = Prevention (Lapse-Relapse): Involves self-reflection and support building, monitoring and dependency check and slip plans and support additions

Experimental Group: Individual Setting

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 29 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age range: 18-29 years
• No physical, psychiatric, or psychological conditions
• Minimum score of 84 on the Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS)
• Minimum score of 23 on the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12)

You may not qualify if:

• Age below 18 or above 29 years
• Presence of any physical, psychiatric, or psychological conditions
• Score below 84 on the Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS)
• Score below 23 on the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Government College University Faisalabad: lead

Study Sites (1)

Government College University Faisalabad

Faisalabad, Punjab Province, 38000, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Internet Addiction Disorder; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Technology Addiction; Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms

Study Officials

• Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology

  Government College University Faisalabad

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology

CONTACT

923337683133; qasirabbas47@yahoo.com

Atika Shafi, MS Clinical Psychology

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor - Clinical Psychology

Model Details: A randomized controlled trial design will be employed in this study. It will be a two-arm study consisting of: (1) an experimental group receiving the 4-STEP Training Program and (2) a waitlist control group. A parallel group design will be used, in which participants in both groups will be assessed simultaneously before and after the intervention. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group with an equal allocation ratio. This design will allow for a systematic comparison of treatment effects and ensure the reliable evaluation of the effectiveness of the 4-STEP Training Program on social media addiction and related psychological outcomes.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 17, 2026
• First Posted: June 23, 2026
• Study Start: July 5, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Last Updated: June 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)