Impact of Exercise and Mindfulness on Social Media Use and Well-being in College Students

Comparing Change in Social Media Use and Well-being Among College Students Receiving a One-week Exercise or Mindfulness Intervention

Not applicable Interventional Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health · NCT06143852

This study is testing if mindfulness meditation or cutting back on social media while exercising can help college students use social media less and feel better mentally.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment150 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Academic / other
Locations1 site (Baltimore, Maryland)
Trial IDNCT06143852 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the effects of two interventions—mindfulness meditation and a social media reduction combined with exercise—on college students' social media use and psychological well-being. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group with no intervention, a mindfulness meditation group, or a social media reduction plus exercise group. Over one week, participants will engage in daily activities related to their assigned intervention and complete assessments of their social media use and mental health at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and one week later. The goal is to determine the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing social media addiction and improving mental health outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are college students aged 18 and older who frequently use social media and are enrolled at Johns Hopkins University.

Not a fit: Patients who do not use social media for more than one hour daily or who exercise more than one hour daily may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide effective strategies for reducing social media addiction and enhancing mental well-being among college students.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with mindfulness and exercise interventions in improving mental health, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* The participant is 18 or older.
* The participant must be a Johns Hopkins University student.
* Owning an iPhone or Android smartphone, with frequent use of social media use daily (\> 1 hour)
* Enabling and sharing screenshots of your smartphone use metrics, including number of last-week pickups, notifications received, and average screen time.
* Providing consent to participate.
* Only exercising 1 hour or less daily, on average.

Exclusion Criteria:

* younger than 18
* Not a Johns Hopkins University Student
* Doesn't own a smart phone
* Uses smartphone less than 1 hour daily
* Exercises more than 1 hour daily

Where this trial is running

Baltimore, Maryland

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 Social Media AddictionDepression, AnxietyWell-Being, Psychological
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.