Using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Internet Addiction to Mitigate WhatsApp's Negative Effects in Education: A Social Work Students’ Perspective

IF 2.1 4区社会学 Q1 SOCIAL WORK

Research on Social Work Practice Pub Date : 2026-04-27 DOI:10.1177/10497315261445124

Mohamed Mohamed Kamel Elsherbiny

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: WhatsApp is used for academic communication but can lead to distraction and lower productivity. This study examined the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for internet addiction (CBT-IA) in reducing the negative effects of WhatsApp use among social work students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Method: A quantitative, quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-test measures was employed during the 2023–2024 academic year. Thirty-four students were divided into experimental and control groups. The intervention was delivered over 24 sessions in three stages to improve students’ digital habits. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in WhatsApp use ( p < .001), improved academic focus ( p < .001), and healthier digital behaviors in the experimental group, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Post-intervention comparisons revealed differences between groups. Discussion: The findings suggest that CBT-IA may help students manage digital distractions and develop healthier digital habits in educational contexts.

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用认知行为疗法治疗网瘾减轻WhatsApp对教育的负面影响：一个社会工作学生的视角

用途：WhatsApp用于学术交流，但会导致分心和降低工作效率。本研究在阿曼苏丹卡布斯大学的社会工作专业学生中检验了网络成瘾认知行为疗法（CBT-IA）在减少使用WhatsApp的负面影响方面的有效性。方法：采用定量准实验设计，在2023-2024学年采用前后测试方法。34名学生被分为实验组和对照组。为了改善学生的数字习惯，该干预措施分三个阶段进行了24次。结果：结果显示实验组WhatsApp的使用显著减少（p < .001），学术注意力提高（p < .001），数字行为更健康，而对照组无显著变化。干预后比较揭示了组间的差异。讨论：研究结果表明，CBT-IA可以帮助学生在教育环境中管理数字干扰，培养更健康的数字习惯。

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来源期刊

Research on Social Work Practice SOCIAL WORK-

CiteScore

3.50

自引率

11.10%

发文量

105

期刊介绍： Research on Social Work Practice, sponsored by the Society for Social Work and Research, is a disciplinary journal devoted to the publication of empirical research concerning the methods and outcomes of social work practice. Social work practice is broadly interpreted to refer to the application of intentionally designed social work intervention programs to problems of societal and/or interpersonal importance, including behavior analysis or psychotherapy involving individuals; case management; practice involving couples, families, and small groups; community practice education; and the development, implementation, and evaluation of social policies.