Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Adolescents: Effects on Game Addiction, Stress, and Sleep (MBSR)

The Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on Digital Game Addiction Levels, Perceived Stress, and Sleep Quality in Adolescents

This randomized controlled trial investigated the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on digital game addiction, perceived stress, and sleep quality among adolescents. The primary research questions were as follows: Does the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program influence adolescents' levels of digital game addiction? Does the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program affect adolescents' perceived stress levels? Does the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program impact adolescents' sleep quality? Participants, aged 12-16, will be randomly allocated to either an intervention group, which will undergo an 8-week MBSR program, or a control group, which will continue with routine school activities. The MBSR program comprises weekly 40-minute sessions that include breath awareness, body scanning, mindful movement, and emotion regulation exercises. Data will be collected using the Digital Game Addiction Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at both the pretest and posttest stages. This study is anticipated to contribute to the development of preventive strategies for behavioral addictions and enhance the emotional well-being and sleep patterns of adolescents.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Sleep Quality; Stress Reduction; Adolescent Behaviour Disorder; Digital Addiction
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR)

Detailed Description

The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program is a structured behavioral intervention aimed at enhancing awareness and emotional regulation through mindfulness practices. This study assessed the efficacy of an 8-week MBSR program implemented in high school settings in Muş, Turkey. A total of 80 adolescents (40 intervention and 40 control) will voluntarily participate in the study. The intervention group will engage in mindfulness sessions concentrating on "being present," "breath awareness," "accepting difficult emotions," and "self-compassion." Each session will have a duration of approximately 40 min per week. Ethical approval was obtained from the Atatürk University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/461). The anticipated findings aim to provide evidence supporting the use of mindfulness-based interventions to enhance adolescent mental health and prevent digital gaming addiction.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Erzurum, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Atatürk University, Health Sciences Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years
• Enrolled in a high school under the Muş Provincial Directorate of National Education
• Voluntarily agreed to participate and provided informed consent (along with parental consent)
• Able to attend all eight weeks of the mindfulness sessions
• Sufficient literacy and comprehension to complete self-report questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed psychiatric, neurological, or developmental disorder
• Currently receiving psychological therapy or participating in another behavioral program
• Regular use of medication that affects sleep, mood, or cognitive function
• Absence from more than two MBSR sessions
• Declined or withdrew consent during the study period

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR); Participants in this group will receive an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program specifically designed for adolescents. Each session lasts approximately 40 minutes and includes breathing awareness, body scan, mindful movement, and emotional regulation exercises. The sessions are conducted once a week in a classroom setting by a trained instructor. Participants are encouraged to practice mindfulness exercises at home between sessions.	Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR); The intervention consists of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program adapted for adolescents. Each weekly session lasts approximately 40 minutes and is conducted in a classroom setting by a trained instructor. The program includes breathing awareness, body scan, mindful movement, and emotion regulation exercises. Participants are encouraged to practice mindfulness at home between sessions using simple guided exercises.
No Intervention: No Intervention: Control Group; Participants in this group will not receive any mindfulness or behavioral intervention. They will continue their normal school routine and educational activities during the study period. After the study concludes, they will be offered a brief introductory mindfulness session as an ethical consideration.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Digital Game Addiction Score	Measured by the Digital Game Addiction Scale. Score range: 7 (minimum) to 35 (maximum). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes, representing higher levels of digital game addiction.	Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Perceived Stress Score	Measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. Score range: 0 (minimum) to 56 (maximum). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes, reflecting a higher level of perceived stress.	Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Sleep Quality Score	Measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Score range: 0 (minimum) to 21 (maximum). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes, representing poorer sleep quality.	Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Muş Alparslan University
• Collaborators: Ataturk University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 3, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 10, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 27, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 27, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): December 10, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 11, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Adolescents; Stress; Nursing; Sleep Quality; Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; Digital Game Addiction
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: B.30.2.ATA.0.01.00/461

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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