Group-based IMPROVE Therapy for Problematic Internet Use in University Students

Problematic internet use (PIU) is a growing behavioral health concern among university students. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and psychological mechanisms of "IMPROVE," a manualized, multimodal group-based psychotherapy. The IMPROVE program integrates cognitive-behavioral strategies with motivational elements, mindfulness training, and socially interactive exercise. In this randomized controlled trial, 600 university students with moderate to severe PIU will be randomized to either the 8-week IMPROVE intervention or an enhanced waitlist control group. The primary outcome is the change in PIU severity, assessed by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) score, from baseline to the post-intervention endpoint (8 weeks).

Inclusion Criteria: 1. be university students aged between 18 and 30 years; 2. report subjective suffering regarding their own internet use and score 50 or above on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), indicating at least a moderate level of PIU; 3. own a personal smartphone or other electronic communication device to ensure accessibility to digital intervention components; 4. provide written informed consent prior to enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: 1. a self-reported history of substance use (excluding tobacco and alcohol) within the past 12 months; 2. current or previous participation in any form of psychotherapy for PIU; 3. the presence of severe physical or neurological conditions (e.g., organic brain diseases, history of traumatic brain injury, or coma); 4. a self-reported history of diagnosed psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder).