Time managementPaper28 Oct 2026

Group therapy may help teens with internet addiction

HelpedThe short version

Teens in group therapy got better at managing time by six months; the no-treatment group did not.

The study

Who took part
56 teenagers aged 12 to 17, from 10 schools in Shanghai, China, all with internet addiction. The therapy group had 28 boys and 4 girls, and the no-treatment group had 17 boys and 7 girls.
What they did
The therapy group met eight times, for 1.5 to 2 hours each time, in groups of 6 to 10. Two child psychiatrists led the sessions, which covered managing feelings, dealing with online content, and how to stop. Parents and teachers also had their own sessions, and the no-treatment group got no help.
What happened
Internet use fell in both groups, with no clear difference between them. The therapy group also got better at managing time, and its anxiety fell. The groups differed at the start, and each was only compared with itself, so the gaps are uncertain.

HelpedTime management
Teens in group therapy got better at managing time by six months; the no-treatment group did not.
Small randomised trial of 56 Shanghai teenagers with Internet addiction · vs teenagers who got no treatment · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show
No differenceOther outcomes
Internet overuse fell in both groups by six months, so therapy did not cut it more than no treatment.
Small randomised trial of 56 Shanghai teenagers with Internet addiction · vs teenagers who got no treatment · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show
HelpedOther outcomes
Anxiety fell in the therapy group at the end and six months later, but not in the no-treatment group.
Small randomised trial of 56 Shanghai teenagers with Internet addiction · vs teenagers who got no treatment · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show