Development of a Smartphone Overdependence Prevention Group Program in Adolescents

Abstract

The objective of this study was to design a group program to prevent smartphone overdependence in adolescents and verify its effects. The program comprises six sessions carried out in the following steps: "Building Relationships and Preparing for Change," "Preparing for Change," "Implementing Change," and "Maintaining Change." Furthermore, to verify its effects, we applied the program to 109 middle and high school students (51 in the experimental group, 58 in the control group) in Chungcheongnam-do. A significant difference was found in the scores of smartphone overdependence, peer relationships, and self-efficacy between the experimental group and the control group. This study showed that this short-term group program of six sessions had significant effects on reducing smartphone overdependence and improving peer relationships and self-efficacy. The program has significance in that it is a prevention program that reinforces the positive aspects of smartphone use as well as reduces the negative impact of smartphone overdependence.