Reducing internet addiction symptoms and screen time through university physical education

ISRCTN	ISRCTN17244604
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN17244604
Sponsors	Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Anyang Institute of Technology
Funders	Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Anyang Institute of Technology

Submission date: 04/04/2026
Registration date: 08/04/2026
Last edited: 08/04/2026

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
This study aims to evaluate whether two university physical education based intervention strategies can reduce internet addiction symptoms, total screen time, and related negative impact among Chinese university students, compared with usual physical education teaching.

Who can participate?
Participants were not required to meet a diagnostic threshold for internet addiction at enrolment. The study recruited full-time undergraduate students enrolled in routine university physical education courses, and internet addiction symptoms were assessed dimensionally at baseline and throughout follow-up.

What does the study involve?
Participants are assigned by class to one of three groups. One group receives classroom-embedded support within routine physical education classes. A second group receives classroom external digital self-regulation support in addition to routine physical education. The control group receives routine physical education only. The study includes a baseline period, an intervention period, and a short follow-up period. Participants complete repeated assessments of internet addiction symptoms, screen time, and related outcomes across the study period.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Possible benefits include improved self-regulation, reduced problematic screen use, and reduced internet addiction related symptoms. The risks are expected to be minimal and are similar to those of taking part in routine university physical education classes and completing questionnaire-based assessments.

Where is the study run from?
The study is conducted in university physical education course settings in China.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2025 to December 2025

Who is funding the study?
1. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan)
2. Anyang Institute of Technology (China)

Who is the main contact?
Zhirui Wang, van_chzhiruy@kaznu.edu.kz

Contact information

Dr Elemes Alimkhanov
Scientific, Public, Principal investigator

The Faculty of Medicine and Health care, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Almaty
050040
Kazakhstan

Phone	+7 (0)727 2213171
Email	20162044@ayit.edu.cn

Dr Zhirui Wang
Scientific, Public

The Faculty of Medicine and Health care, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Physical Education Teaching Department, Anyang Institute of Technology
Anyang
455099
China

Phone	+86 (0)15083067522
Email	van_chzhiruy@kaznu.edu.kz

Dr Madiyeva Galiya
Public

The Faculty of Medicine and Health care, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Almaty
050040
Kazakhstan

Phone	+7 (0)727 2211371
Email	gal-madiyeva@mail.ru

Dr Shepetyuk Natalya
Public

The Faculty of Medicine and Health care, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Almaty
050040
Kazakhstan

Phone	+7 (0)727 2213172
Email	nshepetyuk82@mail.ru

Dr Yugang Guo
Public, Scientific

The Faculty of Physical Education, Anyang Normal University
Anyang
455099
China

Phone	+86 (0)372-3300866
Email	guoyugang@aynu.edu.cn

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Allocation	Randomized controlled trial
Masking	Open (masking not used)
Control	Active
Assignment	Parallel
Purpose	Prevention
Scientific title	Reducing internet addiction symptoms and screen time through university physical education: a three-arm cluster randomized trial
Study objectives	The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of two university physical education based intervention strategies on internet addiction symptoms, total screen time, and related negative impact among Chinese university students. Specifically, the study compares a classroom embedded support condition, a classroom external digital self regulation support condition, and usual practice physical education at the end of the intervention and at short term follow up, and examines their weekly change trajectories across the study period.
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 26/07/2025, Local Ethical Committee, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (71 Al-Farabi Ave., Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan; +7 (727) 377-33-30; info@kaznu.edu.kz), ref: IRB- A1042
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Internet addiction symptoms, excessive screen time, and related functional impairment among Chinese university students
Intervention	This study uses a three-arm class cluster randomized controlled design embedded in routine university physical education courses. During Weeks 1 to 2, all classes follow the usual teaching plan and no intervention-specific components are delivered. During Weeks 3 to 14, Arm A receives classroom-embedded support within routine physical education classes, including structured class organization, interaction support, and immediate formative feedback. Arm B receives classroom external digital self-regulation support in addition to usual physical education, including screen-use self-monitoring, bedtime screen-limiting strategies, implementation intention prompts, and brief self-regulation support delivered outside class. Arm C serves as the control condition and receives usual physical education only. Weeks 15 to 16 constitute the follow up period, during which no new intervention components are added and short-term maintenance is assessed. Regarding the method of randomisation, randomisation was conducted at the class level. A total of 18 intact physical education classes were used as the units of randomisation and were allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to Arm A, Arm B, and Arm C, with six classes in each arm. The random allocation sequence was generated by a research staff member who was not involved in intervention delivery. Specifically, the 18 classes were first randomly ordered using Excel and then assigned to the three study arms according to that order. After the initial random allocation, the distribution of classes across study sites and course instructors was checked, and the allocation was kept as balanced as possible across the three arms with respect to these factors. Assignment was disclosed at the class level to instructors and students.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	Internet addiction symptoms measured using the total score on the 10 item Internet Addiction Test at baseline during Weeks 1 to 2, weekly assessments during Weeks 3 to 16, with primary between group comparisons at Week 14 and Week 16 Total screen time measured using the average daily total screen time obtained from device operating system usage statistics and analyzed as total screen time across the study period, measured at baseline during Weeks 1 to 2, weekly assessments during Weeks 3 to 16, with primary between group comparisons at Week 14 and Week 16 Negative impact index measured using a composite index of screen related negative impact derived from standardized indicators of sleep related and daytime functional burden, measured at baseline during Weeks 1 to 2, weekly assessments during Weeks 3 to 16, with primary between group comparisons at Week 14 and Week 16
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Bedtime screen time measured using the average daily screen time during the bedtime period obtained from device operating system usage statistics, measured at baseline during Weeks 1 to 2, weekly assessments during Weeks 3 to 16, with key between group comparisons at Week 14 and Week 16 Weekly self reported classroom engagement measured using the study questionnaire at weekly assessments during the intervention period
Completion date	21/12/2025

Eligibility

Participant type(s)
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	19 Years
Upper age limit	25 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	720
Total final enrolment	711
Key inclusion criteria	1. Full-time undergraduate students enrolled in routine university physical education courses 2. Assigned to one stable study PE class for the semester 3. Able and willing to complete weekly study assessments during baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases 4. Provided written informed consent before baseline assessment
Key exclusion criteria	1. Students who were not full-time undergraduates or were not enrolled in the routine university physical education course during the study semester 2. Students who did not provide informed consent 3. Students who were unable to participate in routine physical education classes because of health reasons or university physical education regulations 4. Students who were expected to miss baseline assessment or a substantial part of the intervention period
Date of first enrolment	01/09/2025
Date of final enrolment	01/09/2025

Locations

Countries of recruitment

China

Study participating centres

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No

Editorial Notes

07/04/2026: Study's existence confirmed by the Local Ethical Committee, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.