page No 133-14 Shailja Rana
University of Delhi, India
Khushi
University of Bath, United Kingdom.
T
Increased smartphone dependence has resulted in increased smartphone addiction and
resultant screen time, which in-turn has a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.
Current research aims to reduce the smartphone addiction and screen time of 45
undergraduates (M=15; F=30) in the age group of 18-24 years with the help of a twoweek
digital participatory intervention. Single group pretest-posttest design was employed
to determine the impact of the intervention (independent variable) on the dependent
variables-smartphone addiction, measured by SAS-SV developed by Kwon et.al (2013)
and smartphone screen time, measured by ‘Digital Wellbeing App’ and ‘Screen Time’
(for Android and iOS users respectively). Data on smartphone addiction was collected
two weeks before the start of the intervention. The intervention started with an orientation
wherein all participants were briefed about what the intervention entails. On the orientation
day, baseline measure on screen time was retrospectively collected for the past twoweeks
period. The intervention consisted of activities like support group sessions,
collecting daily screen time data, sharing information e-brochures, setting app timers,
google calendar reminders, grayscale and bedtime mode. Post-intervention data on
smartphone screen time was collected daily for two consecutive weeks after the
intervention orientation as also smartphone addiction score on the 14th day after the
introduction of intervention. Dependent t-test found a significant change in pre and postintervention
data on smartphone addiction and screen time. Effective digital participatory
intervention to combat smartphone addiction has significant implications for the future