Clinical Research Directory

Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Approach Based Psychoeducation Program on Social Media Addiction and Automatic Thoughts in Nursing Students

Background: Social media use is common among young people. However, uncontrolled use may become problematic and adversely affect psychological well-being and academic functioning, and cognitive behavioral approaches are a promising means of reducing problematic social media use. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based psychoeducation programme (the Social Media Addiction Reduction Psychoeducation Programme- SMARPP) on problematic social media use and automatic thoughts in nursing students with mild-to-moderate problematic use. SMARPP was designed as an indicated preventive intervention, not as a treatment for clinically significant addiction. Methods: In this randomized controlled study, 70 nursing students were allocated to an intervention (n = 35) or a no-intervention control (n = 35) group; 66 students (33 per group) completed all assessments. Data were collected using a general information form, Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), and Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ). Group × time effects were analysed using linear mixed-effects models, and adjusted between-group differences were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and Hedges' g; nonparametric analyses were retained as sensitivity analyses.