Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42090028›Full record

ArticleDiscover mental health2026

A clinical trial of cognitive behavioral interventions for social media addiction, psychological problems, quality of family relationships and academic performance among university students.

Qasir Abbas, Ifra Iftekhar, Asma Riaz, Abida Kareem, Rabia Maryam, Urooj Tabassum, Feda Abu-AlKhair, Sumayah Aljhani

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Discover mental health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Qasir AbbasDepartment of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Old Campus, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. qasirabbas47@yahoo.com.
Ifra IftekharDepartment of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Zakid Block 1stfloor, Main Campus, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Asma RiazDepartment of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Old Campus, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Abida KareemDepartment of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Old Campus, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Rabia MaryamDepartment of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Old Campus, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Urooj TabassumDowInternational Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Feda Abu-AlKhairJordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Sumayah AljhaniDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSocial media use is habitual among students, and its availability and usefulness contribute to its prevalence. Numerous benefits are associated with social networking sites. Conversely, social media use can become addictive, and excessive use can lead to various psychological problems. It influences students' overall lifestyle and education. Therefore, it is essential to manage social media use to mitigate potential harms. Interventions based on cognitive behavioural therapy can help balance social media use with other crucial aspects of life.

methodsThis RCT was conducted by the Department of Applied Psychology at Government College University Faisalabad across various public and private universities in Faisalabad. Initially, 190 students were recruited for the assessment. After initial screening, 164 participants meeting the criteria were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 82) and the wait-list control group (n = 82). The initial screening tool used was the Social Media Addiction Scale (SNAS), along with other tools, including the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory-Student Version, the Meezan Meta-Memory and Meta-Concentration Scale, and the Satisfaction with Family Life Scale, as well as the student's GPA. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 2.0.

resultsThe findings indicate a significant difference in the level of social media addiction (i.e., F (1, 126) = 159.36, p < 0.001, ηp

conclusionCognitive Behavioural Interventions effectively manage social media addiction and psychological issues. Sessions utilizing cognitive behavioural interventions have enhanced family relationships and academic performance in the experimental group compared to the control group on the waitlist. Students have reported reductions in social media addiction, lower levels of academic burnout, better sleeping conditions, improved memory and concentration, and strengthened family relationships. Trial Registration Thai Clinical Trial Registry (i.e. TCTR: TCTR20220924002).

Indexed as

Academic burnoutAcademic performanceCommunication problemsLifestyle physical activityMemoryPsychological problemsSleeping habitsSocial media addictionUndergraduate university students

Identifiers

PMID42090028
PMCPMC13315049

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.