Cognitive behavioral intervention in dealing with Internet addiction among Arab teenagers in Israel

The current study examines the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral intervention program for improving self-control and reducing Internet addiction among Arab adolescents in Israel. The study sample included 160 students who were 7th to 9th graders, recruited from eight schools in northern Israel. All participants exhibited high scores on a questionnaire indicating elevated symptoms of Internet addiction. Students were randomized to one of two groups: the experimental group underwent a systematic intervention to reduce Internet addiction and the control group met once a week for a group conversation. The experimental group (n = 80) included 58 boys and 22 girls with an average age of 13.45 (SD = 1.46). The control group (n = 80) included 54 boys and 26 girls with an average age of 13.91 (SD = 1.92). Each intervention consisted of 8 sessions, with the experimental group receiving cognitive-behavioral treatment and the control group having a weekly classroom conversation. The results demonstrated preliminary efficacy for the intervention, as higher levels of self-control were reported among the experimental group (p < .01) but not the control group, and this contributed to a reduction in scores on the questionnaire assessing Internet addiction in the experimental group (p < .01). The findings suggest that cognitive-behavioral treatments may be a promising avenue for enhancing self-control and reducing symptoms of Internet addiction among this unique student population.