Effects of a group activity-based motivational enhancement therapy program on social media addictive behaviors among junior high school students in Thailand: a cluster randomized trial.

Abstract

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the effects of a group activity-based motivational enhancement therapy (GA-MET) program on social media addictive behaviors among junior high school students.Materials and methodsThis cluster randomized trial was performed in 245 junior high school students who used social media in the lower part of northeast Thailand. The GA-MET program group and the control group sessions lasted 8 weeks and were followed up 4 weeks later. The addictive social media behaviors, average duration of social media usage during weekdays and weekends (hours/day), child behaviors, self-esteem, and depression were investigated using a self-reported questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression was used to compare the mean and 95% CIs between two groups.ResultsThe GA-MET program significantly decreased the average duration of social media usage during weekdays and weekends (hours/day) (−1.27, 95% CI: −2.18,−0.37 and −1.25, 95% CI: −2.22, −0.29, respectively), emotional behavior (−0.69, 95% CI: −1.18, −0.19), and depression (−4.03, 95% CI: −6.07, −1.99) in the treated group compared to the control group.ConclusionThe GA-MET program could reduce the risk of social media addictive behaviors in junior high school students in Thailand by decreasing time spent on social media, emotional behaviors, and depression.