Reducing Online Gaming Duration Through a Self-Control Program: A Behavioral Approach

This experimental examines the effectiveness of a structured self-control intervention in reducing excessive online gaming among adolescent boys diagnosed with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Thirty-seven participants, identified using the 27-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention, based on Martin and Pear's (2019) behavioral framework, comprised five face-to-face sessions over five days, accompanied by an 11-day self-recording task to track gaming behavior. Employing a randomized controlled trial, the study revealed a significant reduction in gaming duration in the intervention group compared to controls (U = 32.50, p < .001), confirming the program's efficacy. These findings emphasize the value of targeted behavioral interventions in mitigating IGD's adverse effects, such as diminished psychological well-being and academic performance. While promising, the study's short intervention period and demographic specificity suggest the need for further research to explore long-term impacts and broader applicability.