This fall, researchers from The College of Texas at Arlington will launch an bold examine to discover how teenagers’ on a regular basis experiences on social media could form their psychological well being and potential substance use.
UT Arlington College of Social Work Professors Melissa Lewis and Dana Litt, in collaboration with lead investigator Karrie Curry, a analysis scientist on the College of North Texas Well being Science Heart, will comply with 250 adolescents of assorted backgrounds from throughout Texas.
Via day by day surveys over six weeks, the workforce will seize how particular sorts of social media engagement have an effect on contributors’ emotions of tension and despair and tendency towards dangerous conduct, resembling substance use.
A 12-month follow-up will assist decide whether or not these short-term interactions predict extra severe issues over time.
Not like most earlier analysis, which has centered on how a lot time teenagers spend on-line, this examine will dig deeper into what they’re seeing, sharing and responding to on social media, and the way these interactions affect a spread of well being behaviors.
“We’ll have a look at particular engagement with content material associated to the well being behaviors we’re serious about,” Dr. Litt mentioned. “Is a teen simply viewing content material about substance use or psychological well being, or are they sharing it? Does that distinction matter? We’re attempting to grasp precisely what about it’s dangerous throughout sure days and over time.”
The examine might assist result in higher prevention methods and supply mother and father steering on how their kids navigate the advanced digital world.
“There’s analysis displaying the dangers of being on-line, but additionally some advantages,” Litt mentioned. “This examine might assist spotlight either side and create speaking factors for fogeys—for instance, asking questions like “What do you get pleasure from on-line?” “What makes you content?” “What makes you unhappy?”
“Balancing the dialog, not simply specializing in the scary elements, can actually assist. That is one thing this analysis might result in—future research, prevention and interventions.”
Mum or dad interventions do not essentially should be a couple of particular subject like social media, psychological well being or alcohol; it is actually about dialog methods, Lewis mentioned.
“If one thing occurs, like an issue with a peer or one thing on social media, mother and father must strategy these conversations in a method that encourages participation as an alternative of simply reacting with anger,” she mentioned.
The examine’s findings might function a basis and inform methods to stop hurt and promote wholesome improvement in adolescents.
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Can social media predict teen well being dangers? (2025, June 5)
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