Effects of Digital Detox Training on Screen Use, Sleep Quality, and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Digital Detox Training on Screen Use, Sleep Quality, and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study evaluates the effects of a digital detox program on screen time, sleep quality, and healthy lifestyle behaviors among adolescents aged 10-19 years. Excessive use of smartphones and digital devices is associated with poor sleep quality, reduced well-being, and impaired daily functioning.
Participants will be randomly assigned to either a digital detox intervention group or a control group. The intervention consists of ten weekly 60-minute sessions designed to reduce screen time, increase awareness of digital media use, and improve sleep hygiene. The control group will not receive any intervention.
Data will be collected at baseline and approximately 10 weeks after the intervention using standardized questionnaires and screen time measures. The study aims to evaluate whether a structured digital detox program improves behavioral and sleep-related outcomes in adolescents.
Digital screen use has become a central part of daily life worldwide, particularly among adolescents. Excessive screen exposure has been associated with sleep disturbances, psychological distress, and reduced academic performance.
Previous studies have demonstrated associations between problematic smartphone use and poor sleep quality, with pre-sleep behaviors acting as a mediating factor. Digital detox interventions, defined as structured reductions in digital device use, have been reported to improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and support healthier behavioral patterns.
However, there is limited experimental evidence evaluating structured digital detox programs in adolescent populations within educational settings. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effects of a structured digital detox program on screen use behavior, sleep quality, and lifestyle outcomes among adolescents.
Inclusion Criteria Aged 10-19 years Smartphone user At least 3 hours of daily screen time Willing to participate in the digital detox program Written informed consent and parental consent obtained No diagnosed chronic medical condition or sleep disorder Exclusion Criteria Outside the age range (10-19 years) Does not use a smartphone Daily screen time less than 3 hours Diagnosed chronic medical illness (e.g., diabetes, asthma, epilepsy) Diagnosed sleep disorder Current psychiatric treatment or medication use Previous participation in a similar digital detox or sleep intervention Unable to attend intervention sessions regularly Refusal to complete study assessments