Effectiveness and satisfaction of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children on anxiety, depression, and internet addiction in adolescents: Study protocol for a randomized control trial.

Adolescents with Internet addiction often experience anxiety and depression that can reinforce their addictive behaviors. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children (MBCT-C) is an adaptation of traditional MBCT designed for emotional problems in youth. This protocol describes a planned randomized controlled trial with 80 Iranian adolescents aged 12 to 15 diagnosed with Internet addiction. Participants will be randomly assigned to either 12 sessions of MBCT-C group therapy or 12 sessions of life skills training. Assessments will occur before, after, and three months following the intervention, measuring mindfulness, satisfaction, depression, anxiety, adherence, and Internet addiction. The study aims to evaluate whether MBCT-C reduces Internet addiction, anxiety, and depression in this population.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Adolescents with Internet addiction (IA) frequently encounter elevated levels of anxiety and depression, which subsequently results in the perpetuation of their addiction behaviors. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children (MBCT-C) is an adapted version of traditional MBCT that targets emotional problems in children. The present study aimed to provide a framework for the implementation of a clinical trial for its effectiveness in reducing anxiety, depression, and IA in adolescents with IA. This study protocol proposes a randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms (MBCT-C versus active control). Eighty Iranian adolescents (Persian ethnicity; males and females; 12 to 15 years) diagnosed with IA will be randomly assigned to the intervention group (12 sessions of MBCT-C group therapy) or the control group (12 life skills training sessions). Pre-intervention, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up assessments will be conducted using Mindful Attention Awareness Scale-Adolescents (MAAS-A), Mindfulness Program Satisfaction Questioner (MPSQ), Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Children (STAI-C), MBCT-C Adherence Scale (MBCT-C-AS), and Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Data will be analyzed using mixed regression model using STATA-18 to assess the effectiveness of MBCT-C. The current study has the potential to make a significant contribution to evaluate the effectiveness of MBCT-C to address IA, anxiety, and depression in adolescents with IA.