Design and Validation of an Integrated Intervention Module for Addressing Gaming Addiction Among Adolescents

The increasing prevalence of gaming addiction among adolescents has emerged as a growing public health concern, linked to emotional dysregulation, poor academic performance and social withdrawal. Despite its significance, there is a limited availability of structured, school-based psychological intervention protocols specifically targeting this issue. Given the multidimensional nature of gaming addiction, there is a need for evidence-informed, developmentally appropriate modules that integrate emotional, behavioural and cognitive strategies to foster healthier digital engagement in youth.

This article outlines the development of a comprehensive behavioural intervention module designed to address the core behavioural and psychological correlates of gaming addiction, reduce symptom severity, sensation seeking, and impulsivity, and promote psychological resilience and well-being in adolescents.

The intervention module was carefully constructed through a comprehensive search of current research and structured in-depth conversations with key stakeholders. These systematic focus group discussions helped ensure that the module played an active role in addressing everyday challenges and was rooted in field-based insights. To evaluate the framework, the module was shared with 10 experts in this discipline. Notably, all 10 subject experts provided valuable input and feedback, helping revise and refine the module.

A panel of 10 experts evaluated the module and provided feedback on its content relevance, conceptual clarity, precision, and effectiveness in supporting adolescents with gaming-related concerns. In light of their responses, minimal alterations were made, with most parts of the module being upheld. The mean content validity ratio (CVR) was 0.87, indicating strong consensus among experts on the content's relevance.

The study validated a structured intervention framework to help manage problematic gaming behaviour and associated traits, such as impulsivity and sensation seeking, with an emphasis on promoting emotional balance and improved well-being.