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Recruiting NCT07511374

A Randomized Controlled Ecological Momentary Intervention to Improve Digital Self-Regulation and Well-Being

No phase Interventional Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive Reflection

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Ecological momentary intervention.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Behavioral Self-monitoring and Metacognitive Reflection. Basic parameters: 18 years — 25 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Hong Kong
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

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Official title

Activating Metacognition in Daily Life: A Randomized Controlled Ecological Momentary Intervention to Improve Digital Self-Regulation and Well-Being

Overview

The primary objective of this study is to examine whether an ecological momentary intervention (EMI), combining behavioral self-monitoring (screen time screenshot uploads) and structured reflection, can enhance metacognitive awareness and metacognitive regulation in the context of recreational screen time among young adults. A secondary objective is to investigate whether improvements in metacognitive processes are associated with subsequent changes in behavioral and psychological outcomes, including recreational screen time (RST), stress, and life satisfaction. Furthermore, this study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which the intervention exerts its effects by integrating a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with intensive longitudinal (daily diary) data. Specifically, the study addresses the following research questions: RQ1 (Primary Intervention Effect on Metacognition): Does the EMI lead to higher levels of daily metacognitive awareness and metacognitive regulation (planning, monitoring, and evaluation) compared to the control group? RQ2 (Within-person Associations): At the within-person level, do day-to-day fluctuations in metacognitive awareness and regulation predict same-day and next-day changes in recreational screen time, stress, and life satisfaction? RQ3 (Mediating Mechanism): Do increases in metacognitive awareness and regulation mediate the effects of the EMI on recreational screen time, stress, and life satisfaction? RQ4 (Between-person Effects): At the between-person level, do individuals in the intervention group exhibit higher average levels of metacognitive awareness and regulation, as well as lower recreational screen time and stress and higher life satisfaction, compared to those in the control group?

Interventions

  • Behavioral Ecological momentary intervention
    A composite ecological momentary intervention that integrates behavioral self-monitoring and metacognitive reflection. Specifically, each day participants will: 1. Upload a screenshot of their device-recorded screen time (e.g., iOS Screen Time or Android Digital Wellbeing), serving as a form of behavioral self-monitoring. 2. Complete structured reflection prompts designed to activate metacognitive processes, including reflection on: (1) total recreational screen time, (2) usage contexts (e.g.

Primary outcome measures

  • Daily Metacognitive Awareness [Time frame: 14-day dairy]
  • Daily Recreational Screen Time [Time frame: 14-day dairy]
  • Metacognitive skills [Time frame: baseline, day 15 (t1)]
Secondary outcome measures (10)
  • Daily Stress [Time frame: 14-day dairy]
  • Daily Life Satisfaction [Time frame: 14-day dairy]
  • Internet addiction [Time frame: baseline, day 15 (t1)]
  • Short-form video addiction [Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)]
  • Depressive symptoms [Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)]
  • Anxiety symptoms [Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)]
  • Perceived stress [Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)]
  • Self-control [Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)]
  • Life satisfaction [Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)]
  • Fear of missing out (FoMO) [Time frame: baseline; day 15(t1)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

Participants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Age between 18 and 25 years old.
  • Own and regularly use a smartphone.
  • Report an average daily recreational screen time of at least 3 hours on weekdays or 4 hours on weekends, based on self-report (Zablotsky et al., 2025).
  • Be able to access their device's built-in screen time tracking function (or equivalent system-level usage report) and upload screenshots when required.
  • Be willing and able to complete daily surveys throughout the full study period.
  • Indicate motivation to reduce or regulate their recreational screen use.

Exclusion criteria

  • Outside the age range of 18-25 years.
  • Do not own a smartphone or do not use it regularly.
  • Report average daily recreational screen time below 3 hours on weekdays and below 4 hours on weekends.
  • Are unable to access device-based screen time tracking functions or cannot provide valid screenshots when required.
  • Are unwilling or unable to complete daily surveys across the study period (e.g., anticipated non-compliance, scheduling constraints).
  • Do not express motivation to reduce or regulate their recreational screen use.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Open label
Primary purpose
Prevention

Study locations

Hong Kong · 1 center
  • The Hong Kong Polythechnic University — Hong Kong

Publications

  • Zhou H, Dang L, Lam LW, Zhang MX, Wu AMS. A cross-lagged panel model for testing the bidirectional relationship between depression and smartphone addiction and the influences of maladaptive metacognition on them in Chinese adolescents. Addict Behav. 2021 Sep;120:106978. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106978. Epub 2021 May 4. PMID 33971499
  • Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Media Use Is Linked to Lower Psychological Well-Being: Evidence from Three Datasets. Psychiatr Q. 2019 Jun;90(2):311-331. doi: 10.1007/s11126-019-09630-7. PMID 30859387
  • Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Oct 18;12:271-283. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003. eCollection 2018 Dec. PMID 30406005
  • Shiffman S, Stone AA, Hufford MR. Ecological momentary assessment. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2008;4:1-32. doi: 10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.3.022806.091415. PMID 18509902
  • Santos RMS, Mendes CG, Sen Bressani GY, de Alcantara Ventura S, de Almeida Nogueira YJ, de Miranda DM, Romano-Silva MA. The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review. BMC Psychol. 2023 Apr 20;11(1):127. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01166-7. PMID 37081557
  • Nahum-Shani I, Smith SN, Spring BJ, Collins LM, Witkiewitz K, Tewari A, Murphy SA. Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) in Mobile Health: Key Components and Design Principles for Ongoing Health Behavior Support. Ann Behav Med. 2018 May 18;52(6):446-462. doi: 10.1007/s12160-016-9830-8. PMID 27663578
  • Madigan S, Browne D, Racine N, Mori C, Tough S. Association Between Screen Time and Children's Performance on a Developmental Screening Test. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Mar 1;173(3):244-250. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5056. PMID 30688984
  • Curran PJ, Bauer DJ. The disaggregation of within-person and between-person effects in longitudinal models of change. Annu Rev Psychol. 2011;62:583-619. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100356. PMID 19575624

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07511374 · HSEARS20241210004-01

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗