Can a 4-Week training break the doomscrolling cycle?
NCT ID NCT07663708
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a 4-step behavioral training program designed to help young adults (ages 18-29) who struggle with social media addiction, doomscrolling, and cyberchondria—excessive online health searching that fuels anxiety. Participants attend one 90-minute session per week for four weeks, learning to screen their habits, plan healthier behaviors, and manage distress. The goal is to see if the program reduces addiction, anxiety, and depressive symptoms compared to a waitlist group.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 4-Step Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this program could offer a simple, non-drug way to help young adults break harmful social media habits and improve mental health.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 80 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The program requires active participation and may not work for all.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Government College University Faisalabad
Faisalabad, Punjab Province, 38000, Pakistan
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