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

Официальное название

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

Обзор

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?

Вмешательства

• Поведенческое 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.

Первичные конечные точки

• Daily Metacognitive Awareness [Срок оценки: 14-day dairy]
• Daily Recreational Screen Time [Срок оценки: 14-day dairy]
• Metacognitive skills [Срок оценки: baseline, day 15 (t1)]

Вторичные конечные точки (10)

• Daily Stress [Срок оценки: 14-day dairy]
• Daily Life Satisfaction [Срок оценки: 14-day dairy]
• Internet addiction [Срок оценки: baseline, day 15 (t1)]
• Short-form video addiction [Срок оценки: baseline; day 15(t1)]
• Depressive symptoms [Срок оценки: baseline; day 15(t1)]
• Anxiety symptoms [Срок оценки: baseline; day 15(t1)]
• Perceived stress [Срок оценки: baseline; day 15(t1)]
• Self-control [Срок оценки: baseline; day 15(t1)]
• Life satisfaction [Срок оценки: baseline; day 15(t1)]
• Fear of missing out (FoMO) [Срок оценки: baseline; day 15(t1)]

Критерии участия

Критерии включения

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.

Критерии исключения

• 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.

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Да

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Рандомизированное

Модель

Параллельные группы

Маскирование

Открытое

Основная цель

Профилактика

Центры проведения

Гонконг · 1 центр

• The Hong Kong Polythechnic University — Гонконг

Публикации

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• 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

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT07511374 · HSEARS20241210004-01

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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