Theory of Planned Behavior-Based Digital Addiction and Screen Time Management Training for Teachers

The Impact of a Planned Behavior Theory-Based Digital Addiction and Screen Time Management Training on Teachers' Internet Addiction, Sleep Quality, and Psychological Well-being

This thesis focuses on problematic internet use, a widespread issue in contemporary society, and its negative effects on sleep quality and psychological well-being. The indispensable role of the internet in daily life and the risks associated with excessive use constitute an important area of research, particularly in relation to internalizing symptoms and health-related problems. Within this context, considering teachers' intensive engagement with digital media and their role as role models, the study aims to improve their awareness and behaviors regarding digital media use.

The aim of the thesis is to examine the effects of a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)-based Digital Addiction and Screen Time Management training program on levels of internet addiction, sleep quality, and psychological well-being among middle school teachers in Aydın province, using a randomized controlled experimental design.

In terms of methodology, a total of 102 teachers-51 in the intervention group and 51 in the control group-will be assessed before and after the training. Data will be collected using a Personal Information Form, the Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale.

The expected outcomes are that the implemented training will significantly reduce teachers' levels of internet addiction, improve their sleep quality, and lead to improvements in psychological well-being. These findings are expected to contribute to teachers' health and to provide guidance for the development of similar intervention programs for other populations.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Digital Addiction and Screen Time Management Among Teachers
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Digital Addiction and Screen Time Management Training Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior; Behavioral: Control group

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

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Aydın
    • Efeler, Aydın, Turkey (Türkiye)
      • AydınAdnan Menderes University, Faculy of Nursing, Division Public Health Nursing

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Teachers who voluntarily agree to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.

  • Teachers who regularly use digital devices and the internet in their daily lives.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Teachers who are receiving medical treatment or psychological support due to digital addiction, sleep disorders, or psychological conditions.
• Teachers who are unable to attend the training program on a regular basis.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: experimental group; The teachers in the experimental group were provided with Digital Addiction and Screen Time Management Trainings based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, which were developed by the researchers through literature review and expert opinions.	Behavioral: Digital Addiction and Screen Time Management Training Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior; The Digital Addiction and Screen Time Management Training Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior was implemented over a period of six weeks.
Experimental: Control group; The control group received no intervention.	Behavioral: Control group; The control group received no intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Personal Information Form	The form, prepared by the researchers, consists of 9 questions created in line with the literature review, covering general information about the teachers' socio-demographic characteristics.	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 3 month after intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form	The scale was originally developed by Young, and its short form was later created by Pawlikowski, Altstötter-Gleich, and Brand. The scale is a 12-item, unidimensional, 5-point Likert-type scale (scored from 1 to 5). The Turkish adaptation of the scale was carried out by Kutlu and colleagues. The total score ranges from 12 to 60, with no reverse-coded items or cut-off point. Higher scores on the scale indicate a higher level of internet addiction in the individual. While the Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the YIAT-SF scale was 0.85, this value was calculated as 0.89 in this study.	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 3 month after intervention.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)	Developed by Buysse et al. (1989), PSQI measures sleep quality/problems over the past month. Cronbach's alpha = 0.80; validity confirmed via test-retest. Turkish adaptation by Ağargün et al. (1996) also showed α = 0.80, confirming psychometric stability. Total 24 items: 19 self-reported, 5 based on spouse/roommate observations (clinical use only; roommate item excluded from scoring). Scoring uses 18 items across 7 components, each item 0-3. Total score 0-21; ≥5 = clinically significant. Components: Subjective Sleep Quality (item 6), Sleep Latency (items 2+5a), Sleep Duration (item 4), Sleep Efficiency (items 1+3+4), Sleep Disturbances (5b-5j), Medication Use (item 7), Daytime Dysfunction (items 8+9). Item 4 is used for both Sleep Duration and Sleep Efficiency, a key design feature.	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 3 month after intervention.
Psychological Well-Being Scale	Diener and colleagues (2009) developed a measurement tool to assess individuals' socio-psychological health status (Diener et al., 2010). This scale was later adapted to Turkish culture by Telef (2013) and transformed into an 8-item form (Telef et al., 2013). In the analyses conducted, the factor loadings of the scale items were found to range between 0.54 and 0.76. As a result of the reliability analyses of the scale, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.80. It was determined that the item-total correlation coefficients ranged between 0.41 and 0.63, and the t-test results were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The response options used in the scale have a seven-point Likert-type structure: "Strongly disagree," "Disagree," "Slightly disagree," "Undecided," "Slightly agree," "Agree," and "Strongly agree.	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 3 month after intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aydin Adnan Menderes University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 8, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 25, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): March 19, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 11, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 18, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Internet Addiction Disorder, Psychological Well-Being, Nursing, Intention
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Technology Addiction; Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior; Personal Satisfaction; Internet Addiction Disorder; Psychological Well-Being; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Research Design; Methods; Control Groups
• Other Study ID Numbers: Digital Addiction

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: The data sets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: 6 months after publication
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Relevance to the topic of the study and approval of all co-authors within 1 month of receiving the request.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

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