Improving Digital Wellbeing in Saudi Adolescents

NCT ID: NCT07344142

Last Updated: 2026-01-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

2500 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-15

Study Completion Date

2026-06-30

Brief Summary

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Background: In Saudi Arabia, the rapid expansion of digital technology use-particularly among adolescents-has raised growing concerns about internet addiction and its impact on mental health and overall wellbeing. Building on formative work including national surveys, stakeholder interviews, and pilot testing, there is now a pressing need to rigorously evaluate interventions that can promote healthy digital habits among youth.

Study aims/objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based digital wellbeing intervention, with and without a supplemental parent engagement component, using a cluster randomized controlled trial design. The primary objective is to determine whether exposure to the student curriculum alone or in combination with a parent-focused intervention improves digital literacy, technology use behaviors, and psychosocial wellbeing among high school students. Secondary objectives include assessing changes in parent-child communication and parental attitudes toward digital media use.

Methods: Twenty (20) high schools across Qassim and Riyadh regions in Saudi Arabia will be randomly assigned to one of two study arms: (1) treatment as usual (TAU) will receive the Ministry of Education (MOE) Digital Wellbeing Unit that is implemented in 12th grad as part of the Digital Citizenship Curriculum and a brief self-paced online teacher training, or (2) enhanced treatment including the MOE Digital Wellbeing Unit plus a WhatsApp-based intervention for parents and a brief self-paced online teacher training. Approximately 125 students per school (\~2,500 total) will complete surveys before and after the intervention period, assessing digital media habits, wellbeing, and communication patterns. Parent surveys will be administered in the enhanced arm to assess intervention engagement and parenting practices. Surveys with teachers will assess motivation and self-efficacy in delivering the digital wellbeing unit and fidelity of delivery.

Results: The study will generate evidence on the efficacy of school- and family-based strategies for improving adolescent digital wellbeing in the Saudi context. It will also provide insight into mechanisms of change, including the role of parental involvement in shaping adolescent digital habits.

Conclusion: Findings from this cluster randomized trial will inform national digital wellbeing policy and practice, offering a scalable model for youth-targeted behavioral health interventions in Saudi Arabia and similar settings.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Digital Technology Use Social Media Addiction Internet Gaming Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Treatment as usual

(1) treatment as usual (TAU) will receive the Ministry of Education (MOE) Digital Wellbeing Unit that is implemented in 12th grade as part of the Digital Citizenship Curriculum and a brief self-paced online teacher training

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Digital Wellbeing Unit

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

(1) The student component utilizes the existing Digital Wellbeing Unit embedded within the national Digital Citizenship Curriculum, as implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Education. This curriculum is delivered by classroom teachers over the course of approximately one month, typically as part of standard instruction during the academic term. The content focuses on responsible digital media use, online safety, screen time awareness, and strategies for achieving digital balance. All instructional materials and delivery methods align with Ministry guidelines and are integrated into the regular school schedule.

Online Teacher Training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

(3) Teachers in both arms will complete a brief self-paced online training (\~45 minutes total) prior to delivering the Digital Wellbeing Unit. The training introduces key digital wellbeing concepts, provides implementation guidance aligned with the Ministry of Education curriculum, and includes resources to support classroom delivery. Completion will be monitored to ensure fidelity across schools.

Enhanced treatment

(2) enhanced treatment including the MOE Digital Wellbeing Unit plus a WhatsApp-based intervention for parents and a brief self-paced online teacher training.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Digital Wellbeing Unit

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

(1) The student component utilizes the existing Digital Wellbeing Unit embedded within the national Digital Citizenship Curriculum, as implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Education. This curriculum is delivered by classroom teachers over the course of approximately one month, typically as part of standard instruction during the academic term. The content focuses on responsible digital media use, online safety, screen time awareness, and strategies for achieving digital balance. All instructional materials and delivery methods align with Ministry guidelines and are integrated into the regular school schedule.

Parent WhatsApp Groups

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

(2) The parental component, developed by the research team, is included in the enhanced intervention arm. It consists of structured engagement through WhatsApp groups formed with parents of students enrolled in the intervention schools. Parents in this group will receive daily messages for the duration of the curriculum delivery (approximately 4 weeks). These messages will include infographics, short expert video lectures, and brief videos designed to reinforce the concepts taught in the student curriculum. Content will focus on promoting healthy digital habits, improving communication between parents and children about technology use, and modeling appropriate digital behaviors at home.

Online Teacher Training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

(3) Teachers in both arms will complete a brief self-paced online training (\~45 minutes total) prior to delivering the Digital Wellbeing Unit. The training introduces key digital wellbeing concepts, provides implementation guidance aligned with the Ministry of Education curriculum, and includes resources to support classroom delivery. Completion will be monitored to ensure fidelity across schools.

Interventions

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Digital Wellbeing Unit

(1) The student component utilizes the existing Digital Wellbeing Unit embedded within the national Digital Citizenship Curriculum, as implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Education. This curriculum is delivered by classroom teachers over the course of approximately one month, typically as part of standard instruction during the academic term. The content focuses on responsible digital media use, online safety, screen time awareness, and strategies for achieving digital balance. All instructional materials and delivery methods align with Ministry guidelines and are integrated into the regular school schedule.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Parent WhatsApp Groups

(2) The parental component, developed by the research team, is included in the enhanced intervention arm. It consists of structured engagement through WhatsApp groups formed with parents of students enrolled in the intervention schools. Parents in this group will receive daily messages for the duration of the curriculum delivery (approximately 4 weeks). These messages will include infographics, short expert video lectures, and brief videos designed to reinforce the concepts taught in the student curriculum. Content will focus on promoting healthy digital habits, improving communication between parents and children about technology use, and modeling appropriate digital behaviors at home.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Online Teacher Training

(3) Teachers in both arms will complete a brief self-paced online training (\~45 minutes total) prior to delivering the Digital Wellbeing Unit. The training introduces key digital wellbeing concepts, provides implementation guidance aligned with the Ministry of Education curriculum, and includes resources to support classroom delivery. Completion will be monitored to ensure fidelity across schools.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* The study will include students enrolled in Grade 12 at participating high schools that are randomly assigned to one of the study arms.
* In addition, parents or legal guardians of these students will be eligible to participate in the parent-focused component of the intervention if the student is assigned to the enhanced curriculum group.

Exclusion Criteria

* Students and parents will be excluded from the study if the students and parents do not provide assent or consent to participate, in accordance with ethical guidelines.
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Aramco Services Company

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Johannes Thrul

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Johns Hopkins University

Central Contacts

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Johannes Thrul

Role: CONTACT

+14433186633

Nazmus Saquib

Role: CONTACT

Other Identifiers

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IRB00023832

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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