A Scoping Review of Intervention Strategies for Internet Behavioral Addiction among Chinese Adolescents

With the pervasive penetration of the internet, internet addiction among adolescents has become an increasingly prominent issue, posing a significant challenge to public health and the education sector. This study utilized a Scoping Review methodology to systematically examine empirical research on intervention measures for adolescent internet addiction in Mainland China published between 2015 and 2025. The primary aim was to analyze the types, theoretical underpinnings, efficacy, and maintenance mechanisms of existing interventions, alongside discussing their limitations and future directions. The review reveals that physical exercise interventions, family-based interventions, and group psychological counseling/therapy constitute the principal intervention pathways. All have demonstrated positive immediate effects in improving addictive behaviors and associated psychological symptoms, yet they differ in terms of long-term maintenance mechanisms and the stability of their efficacy. Furthermore, current research faces limitations concerning sample representativeness, intervention standardization, and long-term effect follow-up. Future research should prioritize constructing a multidimensional, collaborative intervention system that integrates family, school, community, and social resources to establish a comprehensive intervention network. This is crucial for enhancing the stability and sustainability of intervention outcomes. Additionally, emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, should be leveraged to innovate intervention models, thereby increasing the specificity and effectiveness of the treatments.