How adolescents manage their social media use and its effects on mental health
Official title: Adolescents' Social Media Management Strategies: Bidirectional Links to Objective Social Media Use and Mental Health Outcomes
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11184497 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $660,219 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH138929-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184497 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 13-17 who actively use social media.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use social media or are outside the age range of 13-17 may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Xiaoran — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Sun, Xiaoran
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.