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2025 - Volume 9 - Number 2

Effects of Social Media Detox Interventions on Anxiety and Sleep Patterns Among Adolescents in Selected Secondary Schools in Morogoro Region

Jamal Jumanne Athuman *  ORCID: 0000-0001-7038-7907
Sokoine University of Agriculture, School of Education, Morogoro, TANZANIA

Open Journal for Psychological Research, 2025, 9(2), 33-46 * https://doi.org/10.32591/coas.ojpr.0902.02033a
Received: 21 October 2025 ▪ Revised: 17 December 2025 ▪ Accepted: 28 December 2025

LICENCE: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

ARTICLE (Full Text - PDF)

ABSTRACT:
This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of a two-week social media detox intervention on anxiety levels and sleep quality among adolescents in selected secondary schools in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. A total of 95 Form Three students (aged 15–17) were involved, divided into two intact classes: an experimental group from Tushikamane Secondary School (n=48) that abstained from social media and a control group (n=47) from Tubuyu secondary school that continued regular use. Pre- and post-tests utilized the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and a Sleep Quality Self-Report Index. The intervention included guided abstinence from platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, complemented by journaling, mindfulness exercises, and psychoeducation. Independent samples t-tests revealed that the experimental group had significantly lower post-test anxiety scores (M=5.12, SD=1.84) compared to the control group (M=8.23, SD=2.01), t(93)=-7.31, p<.001. Similarly, sleep quality improved significantly in the intervention group (p<.01). These findings align with international literature on digital wellness and support the feasibility of implementing low-cost, school-based screen-time interventions. The study concludes that structured social media detox programs can meaningfully enhance adolescent mental health and sleep patterns and recommends their integration into school counseling and health education initiatives in Tanzania.

KEY WORDS: social media detox, adolescents, anxiety, sleep quality, quasi-experimental design, mental health, digital wellness, screen time.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Jamal Jumanne Athuman, Sokoine University of Agriculture, School of Education, Morogoro, TANZANIA.

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