Effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral-based psychoeducation in university students with smartphone addiction

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral-based psychoeducation on smartphone addiction levels in university students.
METHODS: This study was conducted on university students studying in the academic year of 2019–2020 using baseline (preintervention) and postintervention measurements and follow-up tests. We selected 104 students scoring ≥31 points on the smartphone addiction scale. Psychoeducation training was applied to the experimental group for 60 min once a week in six sessions. At the end of the training, posttest was applied to both experimental and control groups, and follow-up tests had been performed at the end of the 3rd and 6th months after the training.
RESULTS: When the mean smartphone addiction scores of the experimental and control groups at postintervention and 3rd- and 6th-month follow-up were compared, there were significant differences between the groups (p< 0.05). These findings show that the psychoeducation program is effective in reducing addiction levels in university students with smartphone addiction.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this respect, our study is thought to guide future studies focusing on interventions for behavioral addiction(s).