Penerapan Intervensi Self-Control pada Seorang Remaja dengan Penggunaan Media Sosial Bermasalah: Studi Kasus

Abstract

Background: Problematic social media use among adolescents is characterized by difficulty controlling use despite its consequences for daily activities. This condition may be associated with impaired concentration, academic activities, family interaction patterns, and behavioral regulation. Self-control helps adolescents recognize triggers, control urges, and direct their behavior toward intended goals. A nursing approach is therefore needed to help adolescents develop self-control gradually through behavioral strategies and environmental support. Objective: To describe the implementation of a self-control intervention in an adolescent with problematic social media use at RSKD Jiwa Naimata Kupang. Methods: This study used a descriptive case study with a qualitative approach supported by quantitative data, involving a 17-year-old female adolescent. Data were collected through psychiatric nursing assessment, interviews, observation, daily monitoring, and documentation. The level of problematic social media use was evaluated using the Social Media Addiction Scale–Student Form (SMAS-SF) as supporting descriptive data. The self-control intervention was carried out from 13 to 25 April 2026 through self-monitoring, stimulus control, development of alternative activities and adaptive coping, positive reinforcement, and family support. Behavioral changes were analyzed descriptively and narratively by comparing interviews, observations, daily monitoring, documentation, and family information. Results: Before the intervention, the participant used social media for more than eight hours a day, had difficulty stopping, showed emotional responses when access was restricted, and tended to postpone schoolwork. During the intervention, the participant began to recognize boredom and notifications as triggers, delay the urge to use social media, follow a usage schedule, turn off notifications, keep devices away while studying, and choose alternative activities such as studying, reading, exercising, helping her parents, and interacting with her family. The SMAS-SF score decreased from 85 to 79, a reduction of 6 points (7.06%), although the score category remained moderate. Conclusion: The self-control intervention showed early changes in the participant's ability to recognize triggers, delay the urge to use social media, organize her usage environment, and choose more adaptive activities. The decrease in the SMAS-SF score provides descriptive support for individual change but cannot be interpreted as evidence of causal effectiveness, because the case study design involved only one participant without a comparison group. Self-control interventions may be considered part of a psychiatric nursing approach to support the development of self-control in adolescents with problematic social media use, with continued practice and monitoring.