Thriving in a Digital World: Trajectories of Healthy and Problematic Media Use in Kids as They Get Their First Cell Phone
Official title: Thriving in a Digital World: Examining Trajectories of Healthy and Problematic Media use Across the Transition to a Child's First Cell Phone
Funded at Brigham Young University · NIH-11349493 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study following children through the moment they get their first cell phone to see how healthy and problematic media use develops over time and what factors influence it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham Young University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Provo, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $559,247 |
| NIH project number | 2R15HD101969-02A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11349493 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children transitioning to their first cell phone, and their families, who are willing to participate in longitudinal assessments.
✕Less likely to help
If a family does not participate, they may miss insights about supporting healthier media use during this transition.
What this research studies
This project follows children as they grow and start using their first cell phones, tracking patterns of everyday media use. It looks at why some kids develop problematic media habits and how family environment and the kinds of media content they encounter affect those habits. The study uses longitudinal observation to connect media use with social skills and mental health over several years. Parents and children may contribute data through surveys and interviews to help researchers understand real-life patterns. The goal is to identify early signals so families can support healthier digital lives for kids.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help parents, educators, and clinicians guide healthier mediaHabits in children during a critical transition.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows how media use relates to well-being in teens and adults, but this project focuses on the critical transition in younger children, which is a newer area.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham Young University
Provo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coyne, Sarah — Brigham Young University
- Study coordinator: Coyne, Sarah
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.