Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcome of a Cognitive-Behavioral Group Intervention for Problematic Internet Use via Smartphones in Chinese University Students

Problematic Internet use is increasingly prevalent among college students and is associated with psychosocial impairments. Cognitive-behavioral intervention has been widely used in addressing addictive behaviors, and is shown to be a promising approach for problematic Internet use. This study presented a brief cognitive-behavioral group intervention developed to reduce problematic Internet use through modifying maladaptive cognitions and coping and enhancing self-regulation. This pilot study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effect of this adapted intervention with six Chinese college students who had problems with Internet use via smartphones. Important issues including conceptualization of the treatment model, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention protocol, and promising therapeutic benefits were reported and discussed. Findings on the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcome of this intervention may be informative to investigators planning similar studies. This study provides useful guidance to clinicians concerning cognitive-behavioral group intervention to address problematic Internet use among university students in China.