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Cited by 21Impact of Technology on AdolescentsChild Development and Digital TechnologySubstance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Intervention Programs for the Problematic Use of the Internet and Technological Devices: A Systematic Review

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Cañas, Elizabeth, Estévez, Estefanía·2021·Electronics
DOI 10.3390/electronics10232923
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Abstract

The intensive use of the Internet and communication technologies among adolescents has increased addiction and/or their problematic use. The innovative and revolutionary development of this technology can have negative effects on the mental and physical health of its users, and it seems to have a greater impact on adolescents. As this is causing a public health problem, the objective of this study was to review the different intervention and prevention programs for this problem in adolescents. A total of 14 programs met the inclusion criteria. The analysis of the programs allows for the identification of effective intervention designs for prevention, and also for the treatment of the current problems derived from the use of the Internet and technological devices among adolescent users.

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Crossref · 10.3390/electronics10232923

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  • Recent research shows positive effects of digital detox programs and cognitive behavior therapy as treatment for problematic social media use.

    “Recent research shows positive effects of digital detox programs and cognitive behavior therapy as treatment for problematic SMU; however, more research is still needed (Cañas & Estévez, 2021; Kurnaz & Koçtürk, 2024; Lindenberg, Kindt, & Szász‐Janocha, 2022; Ramadhan et al., 2024).”

    From Review: Social media use and adolescent mental health - an umbrella review and power analysis. (2026) · cites this paper as Cañas & Estévez, 2021

    Section 3.1 reports improvements after cognitive behavioral interventions, and Section 4.1 describes CBT as a treatment for problematic Internet and technological-device use. The cited review does not establish positive effects of digital detox programs or specifically evaluate treatment for problematic social media use; those parts of the claim are not supported by the passages found. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Cañas, E., & Estévez, E.
Affiliations
Universitat de Miguel Hernández d'Elx (ES)
Corresponding author
Cañas, Elizabeth
ORCID
Venue
Electronics
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-11-25
Volume
10
Issue
23
Pages
2923
ISSN
2079-9292 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/electronics10232923
OpenAlex
W3217804027
Cited by
21
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Electronics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Alicante (Universidad de Alicante) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
European Regional Development Fund -FEDER- “One way to make Europe" (PSI2015-65683-P)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Keywords
problematic internet use, problematic technology use, adolescents, internet addiction, prevention programs, intervention program, digital health, mental health

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