Protocol summary

Study aim
The overall aim of the present study is to determine the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) on fear of the future, parenting styles, and parental stress among mothers of female high school students (upper secondary level) with addiction to virtual space in Abadan.
Design
A randomized controlled, parallel-group, open-label clinical trial was conducted on 30 mothers of students with social media addiction. Randomization was performed using a random number table. Thirty participants (15 per group) were enrolled.
Settings and conduct
This study will be conducted in Abadan among mothers who have children with addiction to virtual space and meet the inclusion criteria. Participants will be identified through counseling centers, public places, and calls for participation published on social networks. After selecting 30 volunteers, they will be randomly assigned to two groups of 15 participants each, an experimental group and a control group. Given the nature of the intervention, blinding will not be implemented in this study. The experimental group will receive Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), while the control group will remain on a waiting list.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Child's score above 63 on the Lee et al. (2005) Virtual World Addiction Questionnaire, minimum literacy, no history of addiction or major psychiatric disorders, informed consent, and willingness to receive non-pharmacological treatment. Exclusion criteria: Withdrawal from the study, occurrence or severe relapse of a physical or psychiatric illness during the study, or death of the mother or child.
Intervention groups
The experimental group will receive the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) intervention, while the control group will not receive any intervention.
Main outcome variables
The level of parental stress in mothers

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number: IRCT20200722048168N4
Registration date: 2026-07-01, 1405/04/10
Registration timing: registered_while_recruiting

Last update: 2026-07-01, 1405/04/10
Update count: 0
Registration date
2026-07-01, 1405/04/10
Registrant information
Name
Amir Amiri
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 61 3334 2454
Email address
khazan1381@gmail.com
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-07-01, 1405/04/10
Expected recruitment end date
2026-07-21, 1405/04/30
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effectiveness of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on fear of the future, parenting styles, and parenting stress among mothers of female senior high school students with social media addiction
Public title
The effectiveness of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on fear of the future, parenting styles, and parenting stress
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Obtaining a score of 63 or above (cutoff point) on the standard Virtual World Questionnaire developed by Lee et al. (2005) by the child.
Exclusion criteria:
Participant’s unwillingness to continue cooperation in the field research process
Age
No age limit
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size: 30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this study, participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. First, a list of eligible participants will be prepared and a numerical code will be assigned to each participant. Then, using a random number table, a random allocation sequence for the two groups will be generated.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Expressway, Ahvaz, Iran
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Approval date
2026-05-23, 1405/03/02
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1405.115

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied
Parental stress
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description

Primary outcomes

1

Description
Parental stress score on the Abidin Parenting Stress Index–Short Form (1995)
Timepoint
Before and after implementing the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) intervention
Method of measurement
The 36-item Abidin Parenting Stress Index–Short Form (1995)

Secondary outcomes

1

Description
Fear of the future score
Timepoint
Before and after implementing the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) intervention
Method of measurement
The score on the Fear of the Future subscale of the 13‑item Future Time Perspective Questionnaire developed by Broders et al. (2014)

2

Description
Parenting styles score
Timepoint
Before and after implementing the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) intervention
Method of measurement
The score on the 30‑item Parenting Styles Questionnaire developed by Baumrind (1991)

Intervention groups

1

Description
Intervention group: will receive group psychotherapy based on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) using the protocol of Ellis and Dryden (1997; translated by Firoozbakht, 2018), delivered in six 100‑minute sessions, one session per week.
Category
Rehabilitation

2

Description
Control group: no intervention
Category
Rehabilitation

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Maryam Khatarian
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Expressway, Ahvaz, Iran
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8386
Email
info@iauahvaz.ac.ir

Sponsors / Funding sources

1

Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Aslan Igadarnezhad
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Expressway, Ahvaz, Iran
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8386
Email
info@iauahvaz.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Maryam Khatarian
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Expressway, Ahvaz, Iran
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8361
Email
khazan1381@gmail.com

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Maryam Khatarian
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Expressway, Ahvaz, Iran
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8361
Email
khazan1381@gmail.com

Person responsible for updating data

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Maryam Khatarian
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Expressway, Ahvaz, Iran
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8361
Email
khazan1381@gmail.com

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
Compliance with ethical research standards and ensuring participant data confidentiality.
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Title and more details about the data/document
As a Master’s thesis
When the data will become available and for how long
From 2026/09/23 onwards
To whom data/document is available
Other contributors
Under which criteria data/document could be used
To advance scientific knowledge and address existing research gaps
From where data/document is obtainable
Thesis Office, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
Referring to the Vice Presidency for Research of Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch to obtain the relevant permit, followed by referring to the Thesis Office
Comments
Overall, this study is a thesis conducted to obtain a Master’s degree, and its results will be published and made available in the form of a thesis.
Loading...