Abstract:

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the psychoeducation program designed to reduce the problematic use of smartphones, which has become an important problem in adolescents' lives in many aspects (psychological and physical health, academic, financial, social, etc.). Embedded mixed methods research design was used in the study. Mean, standard deviation, Kruskal Wallis H Test,  Friedman Rank Test, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, Mann-Whitney U Test and content analysis were used in the study. Interviews with adolescents, parents and guidance counselors and related literature were taken into consideration during the preparation of the sessions. In order to test the effectiveness of the 11-session psychoeducation program in reducing the problematic use of smartphones in adolescents, a 3x3 split-plot (experimental, control and placebo X pretest-posttest-monitoring test) was used. The experimental, control and placebo groups of the study included 10 high school students in each group. According to the findings, an 11-session psychoeducation program was found to be effective in reducing the problematic use of smart phones in adolescents. In addition, the opinions of the experimental group students about the effectiveness of the group at the end of the program is that the program is effective. The findings were discussed and some suggestions were made.

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