Family-centered program for problematic gaming and excessive screen use

Evaluation of a Family-centered Program for Problematic Gaming/Excessive Screen Use in a Child and Adolescent Population Within Social Services in Light of the New Social Services Law

Not applicable Interventional Region Skane · NCT07245862

This program tests whether the S-FAME family-based approach can help children and teens with problematic gaming or excessive screen use and improve family relationships.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment170 (estimated)
Ages11 Years to 14 Years
SexAll
SponsorRegion Skane Academic / other
Locations1 site (Lund)
Trial IDNCT07245862 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial compares the S-FAME family-centered intervention to usual care or control conditions in two Swedish municipalities. S-FAME combines psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and social-emotional learning delivered to children/adolescents together with their caregivers through social services. The trial enrolls families reporting conflicts related to screen use and measures outcomes such as gaming/screen behavior, family functioning, mood, and feasibility. The program is designed to be scalable and aligned with upcoming changes in the Social Services Act to offer low-threshold, preventive support.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Children and adolescents experiencing family conflicts related to screen use, together with their caregivers who speak and understand Swedish and are reachable through social services in the participating municipalities, are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Families without screen-related conflicts, those already receiving specialized treatment for severe psychiatric disorders, or non–Swedish-speaking families are unlikely to benefit from this specific program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, S-FAME could reduce excessive gaming and screen-related conflicts, improve sleep and mood for young people, and strengthen parent-child relationships while lowering longer-term social and healthcare costs.

How similar studies have performed: Family-based behavioral approaches have shown promise internationally for reducing problematic gaming and improving family functioning, but comprehensive, evaluated family-centered programs like S-FAME are limited in Sweden.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* family conflicts related to screen use
* spaeks and udnerstand swedish

Exclusion Criteria:

* se above

Where this trial is running

Lund

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Adolescent BehaviorSocial Media AddictionGaming DisorderFamily Relations
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.