World Digital Detox Program for Enhancing Youth and Family Well-being

Effectiveness of a World Digital Detox Program for Enhancing Youth and Family Well-being: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

The pervasive presence of digital devices and technology has reshaped contemporary society, providing numerous benefits but also prompting concerns about prolonged screen time, particularly with smartphones and social media. These concerns extend to their impact on interpersonal relationships and mental well-being. The Zep Foundation's World Digital Detox Program to address the challenges posed by excessive screen exposure, social media usage, and digital screen dependency.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the digital detox family intervention, endorsed by the World Digital Detox Day program, in curbing the use of digital devices-specifically smartphones and social media-and enhancing the overall well-being of youth and families.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Adolescent Behavior; Family; Psychological Well-Being
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: World Digital Detox Family Program

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 168
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• India
  • Maharashtra
    • Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
      • World Digital Detox Day

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

for Caregivers:

• Age 18 or older at baseline assessment;
• Primary caregiver responsible for the care of an adolescent 10-14 who is a resident in the same household
• Able to speak English
• Agreement to participate in the program;
• Consent for self and child to participate in the study.

for Adolescents:

• Age 10-14 at baseline assessment;
• Agreed to participate in the study;
• Caregiver consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Serious Medical Conditions requiring frequent hospitalization
• Special Educational Need Children and Adolescents
• Substance abuse

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: World Digital Detox Family Program; The 4-week Self-Help World Digital Detox Family and Society Program is a comprehensive program, with variety of self-guided activities, discussions, and reflection exercises. The intervention encompasses both individual and collective components.	Other: World Digital Detox Family Program; The Self-Help World Digital Detox Family Program spans four weeks and offers a structured approach to tackle the rising issues associated with the overuse of screens, social media, and digital devices within families. This intervention provides practical tools and strategies to be implemented on a weekly basis.
No Intervention: Wait-list Control; Wait-list control group underwent the standard assessment and screening process but not engaged in the intervention during the 4-week period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)	The 10-item PSS was used to assess perception of stress.	From baseline to 4-week post intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Media Multitasking-Revised (MMT-R) scale	18-item MMT-R scale measured proactive behaviors of compulsive or inappropriate phone use as well as more passive behaviors	From baseline to 4-week post intervention
Family Communication Scale (FCS)	10-item FCS was used to measure satisfaction toward the aspects of positive communication among family members	From baseline to 4-week post intervention
Family Health Behaviours Scale (FHBS)	27-items FHBS scale includes the subscales to assess parental behavior, meal routines, physical activity, and children's behavior.	From baseline to 4-week post intervention
Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF)	14-items MHC-SF measure the adult's emotional, psychological, and social well-being.	From baseline to 4-week post intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Innowage Limited
• Collaborators: Aarogyam UK; Zep Foundation
• Investigators: Study Director: Rekha Chaudhari, PhD, World Digital Detox Day, Zep Foundation; Study Chair: Neha Sharma, PhD, Aarogyam UK

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 12, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 18, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): November 3, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): December 4, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 4, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: Zep-WDDD-I 01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No