Understanding Digital Media, Anxiety, and Emotion in Teens
Official title: Investigation of Digital Media Use, Anxiety, and Biobehavioral Emotion Regulation in Adolescents
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11121052 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how digital media use, like social media, affects anxiety and emotion management in teenagers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $677,709 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135477-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121052 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project is designed for adolescents between 12 and 20 years old who may be experiencing anxiety symptoms and regularly use digital media.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside of the adolescent age range or those not experiencing anxiety related to digital media use may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many teens experience anxiety, and digital media is a big part of their daily lives. This project aims to understand how teens use digital media, whether it helps or hurts their social connections, and how it relates to their feelings and anxiety day-to-day. We also want to learn why digital media might be helpful or harmful for some teens by looking at how their brains develop and manage emotions during this important time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand how digital media impacts teen mental health, leading to new ways to support adolescents dealing with anxiety.
How similar studies have gone: This project addresses identified gaps in current knowledge, suggesting a novel approach to understanding the complex relationship between digital media, emotion regulation, and anxiety in adolescents.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Myruski, Sarah C — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Myruski, Sarah C
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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.