RecruitingNot Applicable

Change in Social Media Use and Well-being Among College Students Receiving a Two-week Exercise or Mindfulness Intervention

United States300 participantsStarted 2025-08-24

Plain-language summary

The investigators will be randomizing 300 college student participants with high levels of social media use into either a 1) control condition (no intervention), a 2) mindfulness meditation cognitive intervention, or 3) a social media reduction + exercise replacement intervention. Participants complete intervention activities daily for two weeks. The investigators will collect self-report and behavioral measures of social media use and related psychological constructs at three time points: baseline, immediately after the intervention period, and one-week after the intervention period (three weeks from baseline).

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * The participant is 18 or older. * The participant must be a Johns Hopkins University student. * Owning an iPhone or Android smartphone, with frequent use of social media use daily (\> 1 hour) * Enabling and sharing screenshots of the participant's smartphone use metrics, including number of last-week pickups, notifications received, and average screen time. * Providing consent to participate. * Only exercising 1 hour or less daily, on average. Exclusion Criteria: * younger than 18 * Not a Johns Hopkins University Student * Doesn't own a smart phone * Uses smartphone less than 1 hour daily * Exercises more than 1 hour daily

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoLBREF) scale

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in smartphone screen time (minutes) for social media use

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in number of social media use smartphone pick-ups

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in percent of time using social media

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in social media use notifications received

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07097545

SponsorJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-12

Contact for this trial

Johannes Thrul, PhD

(443) 318-6633‬ jthrul@jhu.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Social Media Addiction trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Change in Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoLBREF) scale

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in smartphone screen time (minutes) for social media use

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in number of social media use smartphone pick-ups

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in percent of time using social media

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week

Change in social media use notifications received

Timeframe: baseline, immediately post intervention, post intervention up to one week