Examination of the effectiveness of a psychoeducation program to reduce the problematic use of smartphone in adolescents

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the psychoeducation program designed to reduce problematic use of smartphones in adolescents. The multiphase design (mixed method) was employed in the study. First, a measuring tool was developed based on exploratory sequential design. In the second stage, the program was prepared for the experimental study, applied, tested and examined the effectiveness by using embedded design. For the purpose of data collection in the study, firstly focus group interview with three adult groups, including six persons in each, were conducted and six guidance teachers and five parents were interviewed individually. Afterwards, depending on the focus group interviews, individual interviews and the literature item pool was prepared. A measurement tool was developed by analyzing validity and reliability over the item pool. Then, 11 sessions program was designed by considering the qualitative data obtained in the first stage (adolescents, parents and guidance teachers) and literature, applied and tested. Finally, the opinions of the individuals in the experimental group on the effectiveness of the psychoeducation program were obtained. According to the findings obtained in the study, as a result of the interviews conducted at the first stage, the themes and sub-themes related to main themes were formed in the name of causes, results and suggestions in all three groups (adolescents, parents and guidance teachers). In the stage of scale development, exploratory factor analysis was performed on 423 adolescents and confirmatory factor analysis was performed on 290 adolescents for construct validity of scale. Subsequently, internal reliability coefficients for the reliability of the scale, item analysis and criteria validity findings were obtained. Test re-test results were obtained with the participation of 76 adolescens. According to result of the analysis, a valid and reliable measuring instrument was obtained. In the experimental phase, 11 session psychoeducation program was found to be statistically significant effective in reducing the problematic use of smartphones by adolescents. Finally, when the opinions of the members of the experimental group are taken into account, members have pointed out that positive changes are taking place on the negativities that arise in different areas of their life due to their problematic use of their smartphones. In the direction of these findings, discussions were made depending on the literature and suggestions were made for adolescents, parents, guidance teachers and researchers in the direction of findings. Key Words: Problematic use of smartphones, psychoeducation program, the multiphase design, adolescents, parents and guidance teachers.