Impact of a Digital Detox Program on Screen Time and Sleep Hygiene in Adolescents
Keywords:
Digital detox, Screen time, Sleep hygiene, Adolescents, Randomized controlled trial, Behavioral intervention, ChinaAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a structured digital detox program in reducing screen time and improving sleep hygiene among Chinese adolescents.
Methods and Materials: Thirty adolescents (aged 13–17) were recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 15) or control (n = 15) group. Over ten weekly sessions, the experimental group participated in a digital detox intervention featuring psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and goal-setting to minimize excessive screen use. Sleep hygiene education was incorporated through discussions on bedtime routines and reducing nighttime device exposure. The control group received no intervention. Data were collected at three time points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a five-month follow-up. Outcomes included self-reported measures of daily screen time and sleep hygiene scores. Repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate within- and between-group changes, and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were applied to identify significant pairwise differences.
Findings: The experimental group demonstrated a notable decline in mean daily screen time, from 6.82 hours (SD = 0.76) at baseline to 4.31 hours (SD = 0.65) post-intervention, which remained stable at 4.07 hours (SD = 0.61) at follow-up. Sleep hygiene scores improved significantly, rising from a baseline of 81.27 (SD = 6.24) to 93.18 (SD = 5.77) post-intervention and stabilizing at 92.46 (SD = 5.51) at follow-up. In contrast, the control group showed minimal changes across these time points. Statistical analyses confirmed significant time × group interactions for both variables (p < .001).
Conclusion: Incorporating structured sessions, behavioral monitoring, and sleep education may contribute to healthier technology habits and better sleep practices in this population.
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