Tech-Together: A family-based intervention promoting healthy screen use for Australian adolescents

This study evaluates an evidence-informed family-based intervention designed to promote healthy screen use among Australian adolescents in Years 7–8. The pilot study adopts a single-arm pre-post design, without a control group and will be delivered at high schools in South East Queensland, where participants (adolescents and their parents/caregivers) will be recruited. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention in promoting healthy screen use among adolescents in Australia. The secondary aims are to assess the reach, fidelity, acceptability, and implementation of the intervention; To understand how the intervention enhances role-modelling and media efficacy in parents, as well as adolescents’ awareness, knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and motivation to change regarding screen use; To examine whether the intervention can improve positive mental well-being and reduce psychological distress in adolescents. The intervention integrates skills-based education for adolescents with active parental involvement and is grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and Self-Determination Theory. Intervention materials include five short educational video modules (approximately five minutes each) titled Taking Charge of Screens, Connect and Communicate, Stay Safe Online, Parenting in the Digital World, and Collaborative Culture. Materials also include worksheets for goal setting and self-monitoring, customisable family screen-use agreement templates, action strategy guides (establishing family charging stations, organising screen free gatherings and facilitating structured family discussions), and checklists to track progress. The intervention comprises upto three adolescent sessions, one parent session, and one joint parent–adolescent session (each 40–60 minutes), delivered over approximately 2–3 weeks within one school term. The number of adolescent sessions will be determined in consultation with participating schools based on timetable availability; however, a minimum of two and a maximum of three sessions will be delivered. Sessions are delivered face-to-face at participating secondary schools in South-East Queensland, with online delivery available where required, and supported by emails and weekly reminder messages from teachers. The intervention sessions will cover several key topics. Adolescent sessions introduce the concept of healthy and intentional screen use, encourage reflection on personal screen habits, and provide practical strategies for managing online interactions and digital safety. Activities include viewing short educational videos, group discussions, goal setting exercises, and collaborative activities designed to identify healthy alternatives to excessive screen use. Parent sessions focus on understanding adolescent screen behaviours, supporting positive role modelling, setting family expectations for digital media use, and having media-related conversations with their children. The joint parent–adolescent session provides an opportunity for families to discuss their experiences implementing strategies and to refine their family screen use agreements. The intervention will be facilitated by members of the research team (AR, AK and EE), who developed the program and have expertise in adolescent health and school based interventions. Facilitators will use standardised session guides and materials to ensure consistent delivery across schools. As the intervention is delivered by the research team, no additional external training is required; however, facilitators will follow structured protocols to maintain fidelity to the intervention design. Families are encouraged to adapt strategies to their household context to enhance relevance and feasibility. Adherence and fidelity will be monitored using several strategies, including attendance records for each session, collection of completed weekly checklists from participating families, structured observation of session delivery using standardised checklists, and post intervention process evaluation surveys and interviews with participants. These measures will allow the research team to assess the extent to which the intervention was delivered and implemented as intended.