Doomscrolling(4-STEP-TPS)NCT07663708
4-STEP-Training Program for Doomscrolling, Cyberchondriac Behavior and Psychiatric Symptoms (4-STEP-TPS) Among Individuals With Social Media Addiction
A study testing 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) in people with Doomscrolling and Cyberchondriac Behavior, run by Government College University Faisalabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 29 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Doomscrolling, Cyberchondriac Behavior, Social Media Addiction
- What is being tested?
- 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 5 Jul 2026to 30 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 29 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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)
Who cannot join
- 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)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Atika Shafi, MS Clinical Psychology contact
Pakistan1 site
Government College University Faisalabad
Faisalabad, Punjab Province, 38000
Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology, 923337683133, qasirabbas47@yahoo.com
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of 4-Step Training Program for Doomscrolling, Cyberchondriac Behavior and Psychiatric Symptoms Among Individuals With Social Media Addiction: A Randomized Trial
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.
Read the detailed description
In this research, a sample of approximately N = 300 young adults will be initially enrolled for eligibility screening from public and private universities in Faisalabad and Sahiwal, Pakistan, using purposive sampling techniques. Participants will be aged between 18 and 28 years and will have no history of severe physical, psychiatric, or psychological disorders. After eligibility assessment and screening based on standardized measures, N = 80 participants will be selected and randomly allocated to the experimental and waitlist control groups.
This study is expected to provide valuable evidence for mental health practitioners regarding effective interventions for managing social media addiction among young adults. The 4-STEP Training Program is anticipated to enhance participants' awareness and understanding of problematic digital behaviors, including doomscrolling and cyberchondriac behavior. The intervention is also expected to reduce depressive symptoms and health anxiety, improve self-regulation and promote healthier digital habits. Furthermore, the program is expected to enhance psychological well-being, academic functioning, and overall productivity while significantly reducing levels of social media addiction.
- Being tested
- 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)
- Keywords
- 4-Step Training Program, Social Media Addiction, Doomscrolling, Cyberchondriac Behavior, Depressive Symptoms, Health Anxiety, Intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Internet Addiction Disorder, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)Behavioural
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
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group: Individual Setting | Experimental | 4-STEP-Training Program in 1-1 Setting Receives: Behavioral: 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) |
| Control Group | No intervention | No Intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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).
Measured: 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.
Measured: 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).
Measured: 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).
Measured: 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).
Measured: At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jun 2026
- Study start5 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion10 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for DoomscrollingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- 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.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Government College University Faisalabad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Qasir Abbas, Government College University Faisalabad
- Investigators
- Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology, Principal investigator, Government College University Faisalabad
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07663708
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GCUF_CT_STP
- Acronym
- (4-STEP-TPS)
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of 4-Step Training Program for Doomscrolling, Cyberchondriac Behavior and Psychiatric Symptoms Among Individuals With Social Media Addiction: A Randomized Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07663708
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- (4-STEP-TPS) / GCUF_CT_STP
- Keywords
- 4-Step Training Program, Social Media Addiction, Doomscrolling, Cyberchondriac Behavior, Depressive Symptoms, Health Anxiety, Intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Government College University FaisalabadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 10 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
In this research, a sample of approximately N = 300 young adults will be initially enrolled for eligibility screening from public and private universities in Faisalabad and Sahiwal, Pakistan, using purposive sampling techniques. Participants will be aged between 18 and 28 years and will have no history of severe physical, psychiatric, or psychological disorders. After eligibility assessment and screening based on standardized measures, N = 80 participants will be selected and randomly allocated to the experimental and waitlist control groups.
This study is expected to provide valuable evidence for mental health practitioners regarding effective interventions for managing social media addiction among young adults. The 4-STEP Training Program is anticipated to enhance participants' awareness and understanding of problematic digital behaviors, including doomscrolling and cyberchondriac behavior. The intervention is also expected to reduce depressive symptoms and health anxiety, improve self-regulation and promote healthier digital habits. Furthermore, the program is expected to enhance psychological well-being, academic functioning, and overall productivity while significantly reducing levels of social media addiction.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- 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.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group: Individual Setting | Experimental | Behavioral: 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)4-STEP-Training Program in 1-1 Setting |
| Control Group | No intervention | –No Intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 29 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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)
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)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 | Behavioural | Experimental Group: Individual Setting |
Primary outcome
Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS)
Time frame: At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months
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).
Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12)
Time frame: At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months
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.
Doomscrolling Scale (DS)
Time frame: At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months
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).
Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI)
Time frame: At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months
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).
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time frame: At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months
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).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Atika Shafi, MS Clinical Psychology contact
Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology principal investigator
Government College University Faisalabad
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) in people with Doomscrolling and Cyberchondriac Behavior, run by Government College University Faisalabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Qasir Abbas, PhD Clinical Psychology (923337683133, qasirabbas47@yahoo.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS) (time frame: At screening, after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Jun 2026.