How Does Social Media Impact Adolescent Mental Health

 
 

Are you interested in helping us understand how social media use influences mental health during adolescence?

Join us in examining the "Causal Effects of Exposure to Social Media in Adolescent Mental Health,” a vital longitudinal study led by Dr. Kostadin Kushlev, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University. Generously funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), this research aims to shed light on crucial aspects of adolescent mental health in relation to social media use.

 

You and your child may be eligible to participate in this study if you are the parent of a 10-14-year-old who is about to receive their first smartphone!

 

Benefits of Participation:

  • Receive compensation for your time and contribution to science ($100 per family)

  • Learn effective ways to implement parental controls

  • As a participant, your child's experiences with social media and mental well-being will help shape future interventions and policies. Your family will contribute to advancing scientific knowledge in a critical area affecting today's youth.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Children aged 10-14 years old who are about to receive their first smartphone.

  • Parental consent (both parents if custody is shared)

  • The child’s willingness to participate in study activities.

  • No history of self-harm ideation, developmental diagnoses, or severe mental health problems.

What You Can Expect:

  • Your child will be part of a vital longitudinal study examining the effects of adolescents' social media use and mental health. 

  • The study will monitor your child’s mobile device activity across approximately 6 months.

  • Your child may be assigned to either naturalistic or restricted social media access for 3 months.

  • You and your child will be asked to complete survey questionnaires regarding mental health at three intervals: baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Each survey session is estimated to last around 30 minutes.

  • Your child will also be prompted with daily questions concerning changes in their daily mental health. These prompts will be automatically delivered via their mobile device.

 

Take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of adolescents everywhere! Help us uncover the impact of social media on mental health. Your involvement could shape the future of adolescent mental health research.

 

For more information or to enroll your child, please complete the survey below or contact us at happytech@georgetown.edu.