How social media images relate to suicidal thoughts in transgender teens
Official title: Using digital photovoice to explore the relationships between social media content and suicidality among transgender adolescents
Funded at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee · NIH-11366146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses digital photovoice to learn how social media content seen by transgender and non-binary teens (ages 15–20) connects with feelings of self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin Milwaukee NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $892,328 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1MH135498-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Transgender and gender non-binary adolescents and emerging adults ages 15–20 who use social media and are willing to share screenshots or images and describe their emotional reactions.
✕Less likely to help
People under 15 or over 20, cisgender youth, or anyone unwilling to share social media content or personal emotional responses are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
You would use your phone to capture or point out social media posts or images that stand out to you and share how they make you feel in the moment. The team will focus on transgender and gender non-binary adolescents ages 15–20, especially high schoolers and emerging adults. Instead of only looking back over time, the study collects in-the-moment information about emotions tied to content you consume. Your photos and descriptions will help researchers link what you see on social media with experiences of loneliness, depression, or suicidality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide better social media supports, safety recommendations, and tailored prevention efforts for transgender youth.
How similar studies have gone: Photovoice and momentary-report methods have been used in mental-health research, but applying digital photovoice to link passive social-media consumption with suicidality in trans youth is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nambisan, Priya — University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
- Study coordinator: Nambisan, Priya
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.