The Effect of Addiction Prevention Course on Behavioral Addictions and Disordered Eating Behavior
Abstract
This study examined the impact of an Addiction Prevention course on university students’ behavioral addictions and eating behaviors, aiming to promote healthier lifestyle habits in higher education. The research focused on technology addiction, online shopping addiction, and disordered eating, which are increasingly prevalent among young adults. The sample consisted of 104 undergraduate students in Türkiye, with 52 assigned to the experimental group and 52 to the control group. The experimental group participated in a structured 10-week (20-hour) Addiction Prevention course, while the control group received no intervention. The program was delivered within a peer-interactive framework under the guidance of the researcher and incorporated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, such as cognitive restructuring and self-regulation, along with motivation enhancement strategies to address deficits in self-control associated with behavioral addictions and disordered eating. A pretest–posttest control group design was employed. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Technology Addiction Scale, Online Shopping Addiction Scale, and Eating Disorders Behavior Scale. Findings indicated significant reductions in behavioral addiction levels in the experimental group compared to the control group. Notable decreases were observed in subdimensions of technology addiction, including social media use, instant messaging, online gaming, and website usage. Improvements were also found in online shopping addiction and disordered eating behaviors. These results suggest that structured psychoeducational programs are effective in reducing behavioral addictions and promoting healthier habits among university students. Integrating such courses into university curricula and providing ongoing guidance services may help sustain these positive outcomes.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Project Number
Ethical Statement
Thanks
References
- Andreassen, C. S., Griffiths, M. D., Pallesen, S., Bilder, R. M., Torsheim, T., & Aboujaoude, E. (2015). The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale: Reliability and validity of a brief screening test. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1374. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01374
- Andreassen, C. S., Pallesen, S., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem: Findings from a large national survey. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 287-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.006
- Anjani, K. R. D., Dantes, N., & Dwiarwati, K. A. (2024). Effectiveness of behavioral counseling services self-management techniques to reduce social media addiction in high school students. Bisma the Journal of Counseling, 8(1), 43-48. https://doi.org/10.23887/bisma.v8i1.81624
- Avci, D., Gündoğdu, N. A., Dönmez, R. H., & Avci, F. E. (2023). Students as teachers: Effect of the peer education model on reducing smartphone addiction in adolescents. Health Education Research, 38(2), 107-118.
- Aydın, F. (2017). Students' views on the problems caused by technology addiction in the classroom environment. Master's thesis, Ankara University, Ankara.
- Billieux, J., Philippot, P., Schmid, C., Maurage, P., De Mol, J., & Van der Linden, M. (2015). Is dysfunctional use of the mobile phone a behavioural addiction? Confronting symptom-based versus process-based approaches. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 22(5), 460-468. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1910
- Berber Çelik, Ç. (2016). An educational intervention in reducing the propensity for Internet addiction. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, 3, 365‒386.
- Black, D. W. (2007). A review of compulsive buying disorder. World Psychiatry, 6(1), 14-18.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
School Counseling , Psychological Counseling Education , Adult Education
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
March 12, 2026
Submission Date
July 22, 2025
Acceptance Date
January 14, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: 2
