Social Media Addiction4-STEPNCT07821502
Breaking the Cycle of Social Media Addiction: Efficacy of a 4-STEP Training Program in Reducing Cognitive Fatigue, Psychological Distress, Academic Procrastination, and Burnout Among Adolescents
A study testing 4-STEP-TPS in people with Social Media Addiction, 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, cognitive fatigue, psychological distress, academic burnout, and procrastination among university students. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 13 to 18 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Social Media Addiction
- What is being tested?
- 4-STEP-TPS
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 200 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 15 Sep 2026to 30 Nov 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 13 to 18 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Inclusion Criteria: Participants aged 13-18 years. Participants with a minimum score of 84 on the Social Media Addiction Scale. Exclusion Criteria:1) Participants below 13 years or above 18 years of age. Participants with any diagnosed psychiatric disorder or mental health condition.
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Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Qasir Abbas QAbbas Associated Professor, Phd, Clinical Psychology contact
Pakistan1 site
Government College University Faisalabad
Faisalabad, Punjab Province, 3800
Qasir QAbbas Abbas, Associate Professor, Phd, Clinical Psychology, 923337683133, qasirabbas47@yahoo.com
About this study
Official title: Breaking the Cycle of Social Media Addiction: Efficacy of a 4-STEP Training Program in Reducing Cognitive Fatigue, Psychological Distress, Academic Procrastination, and Burnout Among Adolescents - A Randomized Controlled 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, cognitive fatigue, psychological distress, academic burnout, and procrastination among university students. The study aims to promote healthier digital habits, psychological well-being, and improved academic 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 = 200 school students will initially be approached for eligibility screening. Participants will be aged between 13 and 18 years and will be currently enrolled in a school. Participants with a minimum score of 84 on the Social Media Addiction Scale will be eligible for inclusion. Students with a history of severe physical illness, psychiatric or psychological disorders, or psychotic illness will be excluded. After eligibility assessment and screening, N = 40 participants will be selected and randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 20) and a waitlist control group (n = 20).
The 4-Step Training Program will be delivered over four weeks, with one session per week. The program focuses on psychoeducation, treatment conceptualization and planning, effective management strategies, self-regulation, and relapse prevention. The study will assess changes in social media addiction, cognitive fatigue, psychological distress, academic burnout, and procrastination from pre-intervention to post-intervention.
The study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of a structured intervention for managing social media addiction among university students. The 4-Step Training Program is anticipated to reduce social media addiction, cognitive fatigue, and psychological distress. Furthermore, the intervention is expected to improve academic functioning by reducing academic burnout and procrastination, while promoting healthier digital habits, better self-regulation, psychological well-being, and overall academic productivity.
- Conditions
- Social Media Addiction
- Being tested
- 4-STEP-TPS
- Keywords
- Cognitive Fatigue, Psychological Distress, Procrastination, Academic Burnout, Adolescents
- Medical subject headings
- Internet Addiction Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
4-STEP-TPSBehavioural
Four-step training program designed to reduce social media addiction and related psychological/academic difficulties among students.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Experimental Group: Individual Setting 4-STEP-Training Program in 1-1 Setting | Experimental | Behavioral: 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 Receives: Behavioral: 4-STEP-TPS |
| Control group | No intervention | No treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Social Networking Addiction Scale
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: After 4 weeks and reassessment up to 6 months]
Multidimensional Fatigue Scale ( MFS)
The scale was designed to assess fatigue-related experiences among children and adolescents across multiple domains of functioning. The PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale consists of 18 items divided into three subscales: General Fatigue, Sleep/Rest Fatigue and Cognitive Fatigue with each subscale comprising six items. The instrument uses a 5-point Likert-scale response format which range from (0=Never to 4=Almost Always) with participants indicating how frequently they experienced each fatigue-related symptom during the past month. Lower scores on the Multidimentional Fatigue Scale items indicated greater levels of cognitive fatigue among the participants (Varni, n.d.).
Measured: after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months
Tuckman Procrastination Scale
The scale was developed to assess individual's tendencies to delay, postpone or avoid completing tasks and responsibilities. Since its development the TPS has been widely used to examine procrastination in educational settings among adolescent and student populations. The scale consists of 16 items and employs a 4-point Likert-scale response format ranging from (1=That is not me for sure, to 4=That is me for sure). Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which each statement describes their typical behavior. Higher scores on the scale indicate a greater tendency toward procrastination.
Measured: at screening after 4 weekds, and reassessment up to 6 months]
School Burnout Inventory
School Burnout Inventory (SBI-9) 2009a). The instrument was designed to assess school-related burnout among adolescents and has been widely used in educational and psychological research to evaluate students' experiences of exhaustion and disengagement related to academic demands. In the present study, the School Burnout Inventory was administered to measure academic burnout among adolescent school students. The instrument was considered appropriate because it captures the multidimensional nature of burnout within the school context and has demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties among adolescent populations. Scores on all items were summed to obtain an overall measure of academic burnout with higher scores reflecting greater levels of burnout.
Measured: At screening, after 4 weeks and reassessment upto 6 months
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). The DASS-21 and has been widely used in both clinical and non-clinical populations (S. H. Lovibond \& Lovibond, 2011). The scale consists of 21 items distributed across three subscales: Depression, Anxiety and Stress with each subscale comprising seven items. The instrument employs a 4-point Likert-type response format ranging from (0=Never to 3=Always). Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which each statement applied to them during the previous week. In the present study the Urdu version of the DASS-21 was administered to measure psychological distress among adolescent school students.
Measured: At screening, after 4 weeks and reassessment upto 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Sep 2026
- Study start15 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion15 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Social Media AddictionStudies 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
- This study uses a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured 4-Step Training Program for reducing social media addiction and associated cognitive fatigue, psychological distress, academic burnout, and procrastination among university students. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to an experimental group receiving the 4-Step Training Program or a control group. The intervention will be delivered over four weeks, with one session per week. Participants will be assessed before and after the intervention to examine changes in the study outcomes.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 200 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 QAbbas Abbas, Phd, Clinical Psychology, Principal investigator, Government College University Faisalabad
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07821502
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GCUF_4STEP-TPS-2026
- Acronym
- 4-STEP
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Sep 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 15 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Breaking the Cycle of Social Media Addiction: Efficacy of a 4-STEP Training Program in Reducing Cognitive Fatigue, Psychological Distress, Academic Procrastination, and Burnout Among Adolescents - A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07821502
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 4-STEP / GCUF_4STEP-TPS-2026
- Conditions
- Social Media Addiction
- Keywords
- Cognitive Fatigue, Psychological Distress, Procrastination, Academic Burnout, Adolescents
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Government College University FaisalabadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 15 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Sep 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, cognitive fatigue, psychological distress, academic burnout, and procrastination among university students. The study aims to promote healthier digital habits, psychological well-being, and improved academic 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 = 200 school students will initially be approached for eligibility screening. Participants will be aged between 13 and 18 years and will be currently enrolled in a school. Participants with a minimum score of 84 on the Social Media Addiction Scale will be eligible for inclusion. Students with a history of severe physical illness, psychiatric or psychological disorders, or psychotic illness will be excluded. After eligibility assessment and screening, N = 40 participants will be selected and randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 20) and a waitlist control group (n = 20).
The 4-Step Training Program will be delivered over four weeks, with one session per week. The program focuses on psychoeducation, treatment conceptualization and planning, effective management strategies, self-regulation, and relapse prevention. The study will assess changes in social media addiction, cognitive fatigue, psychological distress, academic burnout, and procrastination from pre-intervention to post-intervention.
The study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of a structured intervention for managing social media addiction among university students. The 4-Step Training Program is anticipated to reduce social media addiction, cognitive fatigue, and psychological distress. Furthermore, the intervention is expected to improve academic functioning by reducing academic burnout and procrastination, while promoting healthier digital habits, better self-regulation, psychological well-being, and overall academic productivity.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study uses a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured 4-Step Training Program for reducing social media addiction and associated cognitive fatigue, psychological distress, academic burnout, and procrastination among university students. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to an experimental group receiving the 4-Step Training Program or a control group. The intervention will be delivered over four weeks, with one session per week. Participants will be assessed before and after the intervention to examine changes in the study outcomes.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Experimental Group: Individual Setting 4-STEP-Training Program in 1-1 Setting | Experimental | Behavioral: 4-STEP-TPSBehavioral: 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 |
| Control group | No intervention | –No treatment |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 13 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
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-TPSFour-step training program designed to reduce social media addiction and related psychological/academic difficulties among students. | Behavioural | Experimental: Experimental Group: Individual Setting 4-STEP-Training Program in 1-1 Setting |
Primary outcome
Social Networking Addiction Scale
Time frame: After 4 weeks and reassessment up to 6 months]
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).
Multidimensional Fatigue Scale ( MFS)
Time frame: after 4 weeks, and reassessment up to 6 months
The scale was designed to assess fatigue-related experiences among children and adolescents across multiple domains of functioning. The PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale consists of 18 items divided into three subscales: General Fatigue, Sleep/Rest Fatigue and Cognitive Fatigue with each subscale comprising six items. The instrument uses a 5-point Likert-scale response format which range from (0=Never to 4=Almost Always) with participants indicating how frequently they experienced each fatigue-related symptom during the past month. Lower scores on the Multidimentional Fatigue Scale items indicated greater levels of cognitive fatigue among the participants (Varni, n.d.).
Tuckman Procrastination Scale
Time frame: at screening after 4 weekds, and reassessment up to 6 months]
The scale was developed to assess individual's tendencies to delay, postpone or avoid completing tasks and responsibilities. Since its development the TPS has been widely used to examine procrastination in educational settings among adolescent and student populations. The scale consists of 16 items and employs a 4-point Likert-scale response format ranging from (1=That is not me for sure, to 4=That is me for sure). Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which each statement describes their typical behavior. Higher scores on the scale indicate a greater tendency toward procrastination.
School Burnout Inventory
Time frame: At screening, after 4 weeks and reassessment upto 6 months
School Burnout Inventory (SBI-9) 2009a). The instrument was designed to assess school-related burnout among adolescents and has been widely used in educational and psychological research to evaluate students' experiences of exhaustion and disengagement related to academic demands. In the present study, the School Burnout Inventory was administered to measure academic burnout among adolescent school students. The instrument was considered appropriate because it captures the multidimensional nature of burnout within the school context and has demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties among adolescent populations. Scores on all items were summed to obtain an overall measure of academic burnout with higher scores reflecting greater levels of burnout.
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21
Time frame: At screening, after 4 weeks and reassessment upto 6 months
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). The DASS-21 and has been widely used in both clinical and non-clinical populations (S. H. Lovibond \& Lovibond, 2011). The scale consists of 21 items distributed across three subscales: Depression, Anxiety and Stress with each subscale comprising seven items. The instrument employs a 4-point Likert-type response format ranging from (0=Never to 3=Always). Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which each statement applied to them during the previous week. In the present study the Urdu version of the DASS-21 was administered to measure psychological distress among adolescent school students.
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 15 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Social Media Addiction
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4-STEP-Training Program for Doomscrolling, Cyberchondriac Behavior and Psychiatric Symptoms (4-STEP-TPS) Among Individuals With Social Media Addiction
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Mental Health Issue
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.
Qasir Abbas QAbbas Associated Professor, Phd, Clinical Psychology contact
Qasir Abbas QAbbas 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-TPS in people with Social Media Addiction, 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?
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 15 Sep 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 QAbbas Associated Professor, 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 (time frame: 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 15 Sep 2026.