How adolescents manage their social media use and its effects on mental health

Adolescents' Social Media Management Strategies: Bidirectional Links to Objective Social Media Use and Mental Health Outcomes

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-11184497

This study is looking at how different ways of using social media affect the mental health of teens aged 13-17, and it involves talking to a group of young people about their social media habits and feelings over two weeks to see what works best for them.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11184497 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between social media management strategies and mental health outcomes in adolescents aged 13-17. It involves a two-phase approach, starting with a preliminary phase to gather data from 100 adolescents to refine research methods. The second phase will involve a larger group of 300 adolescents, collecting daily reports on their social media use and mental health through surveys and interviews over a 14-day period. The goal is to understand how different management strategies impact mental health and social media experiences.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 13-17 who actively use social media.

Not a fit: Patients who do not use social media or are outside the age range of 13-17 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide insights into effective social media management strategies that promote better mental health among adolescents.

How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing discussion about social media's impact on mental health, this research aims to provide novel, objective data through a longitudinal approach that has not been extensively explored.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.