How social media affects mental health in adolescents
Official title: Heterogeneity in joint real-time and developmental influences of positive and negative social media experiences on socioemotional vulnerability and psychopathology across adolescence
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10919851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how good and bad experiences on social media affect the mental health of young people aged 12 to 20, helping us understand what makes some teens more vulnerable to issues and how we can better support them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $589,825 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135458-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10919851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who actively use social media and may be experiencing emotional or psychological challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not active social media users or who are outside the age range of 12 to 20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how both positive and negative experiences on social media influence mental health and emotional well-being in adolescents aged 12 to 20. By using real-time assessments, the study aims to understand the complex relationship between social media use and the development of psychological issues over time. It focuses on individual differences in responses to social media, capturing the nuances of how these experiences can vary from person to person. The goal is to identify factors that contribute to mental health vulnerabilities and inform targeted interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for mental health issues in adolescents related to social media use.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the impact of social media on mental health can lead to significant insights, but this approach of real-time assessment and individual variability is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Foster, Katherine Tate — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Foster, Katherine Tate
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.