The global surge in smartphone addiction (SA) represents a critical biopsychosocial risk for adolescents. This study evaluated the efficacy of a 12-week structured badminton intervention in alleviating SA among high school students and explored the psychosocial mechanisms underlying behavioral change using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Thirty adolescents were randomized into experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15). The experimental group participated in an "open-skill" badminton program (6 sessions/week, 120-150 min/session) for 12 weeks, while the control group maintained their routine lifestyle. Data were collected via the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and semi-structured interviews. Statistical analysis included paired/independent t-tests and ANCOVA, followed by inductive thematic analysis of qualitative data. Quantitative findings revealed a highly significant reduction in SA levels within the experimental group (Mpre = 32.27 ± 10.25 vs. Mpost = 24.93 ± 7.13, p\<.001), achieving a very large effect size (d= 1.84). No significant change was observed in the control group (p=.095). ANCOVA confirmed a robust intervention effect, F(1,27)= 52.04, p\<.001, explaining 65.8% of the variance. Qualitative follow-up identified five core themes-life functionality, withdrawal, virtual social orientation, overuse, and tolerance-indicating that badminton served as a "temporal buffer" that enhanced self-regulation and real-world relatedness. A 12-week structured badminton program is a potent non-pharmacological strategy for mitigating technological dependencies. This research provides an evidence-based framework for utilizing sport-specific interventions to foster adolescent psychological resilience. Furthermore, our findings emphasize that open-skill sports act as a socio-cognitive buffer, reclaiming adolescent attention from digital spaces and fostering a sustainable state of digital well-being.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Participants assigned to the intervention group will participate in a structured badminton training program for 12 consecutive weeks. The program consists of six supervised sessions per week, each lasting approximately 120-150 minutes. Each session includes a standardized warm-up (30 minutes), badminton technical training and match play (60-90 minutes), and a cool-down period (30 minutes). The intervention is designed to increase regular physical activity, promote social interaction, and improve self-regulation through participation in an open-skill sport.
Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University
Erzincan, Turkey (Türkiye)
Smartphone Addiction Level
Smartphone addiction will be assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). The SAS-SV consists of 10 items rated on a six-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 10 to 60. Higher scores indicate greater smartphone addiction severity.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Participants' Experiences of Behavioral Change
Participants' experiences regarding changes in smartphone use, self-regulation, daily functioning, withdrawal symptoms, virtual social orientation, overuse, and tolerance will be explored through semi-structured interviews using inductive thematic analysis.
Time frame: Week 12
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