Targeted school intervention outperforms media lessons for teens at risk of gaming disorder
School-based prevention programs are designed to help protect adolescents from gaming disorder and problematic online habits. But how effective are these interventions in promoting responsible use of video games and the internet?
A study conducted in Heidelberg, Germany, has found that targeted school-based interventions for adolescents at high risk of gaming disorder are more effective than media education programs. Researchers led by Dr. Katajun Lindenberg examined two interventions, PROTECTtraining (behavioral therapy-based) and PROTECTinfo (media education), in a statewide trial involving 1,800 secondary school students.
After four weeks, both programs improved participants' online addiction behaviors and mental well-being, but PROTECTtraining was 50% more effective in reducing gaming disorder and problematic online habits compared to PROTECTinfo. The results suggest that school-based prevention programs tailored to at-risk groups yield better outcomes and are more resource-efficient than broad-scale prevention efforts.
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