Understanding how social media affects Asian American adolescents' mental health
Official title: Identifying adolescent social media response in real-time: Risk and protective factors for Asian American mental health
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10814674 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how social media affects the way Asian American teens see themselves and their mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, by showing them different types of posts and asking how they feel about themselves afterward.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $542,860 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD115355-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10814674 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Asian American adolescents who actively use social media platforms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use social media or are not within the adolescent age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of social media on the self-concept and mental health of Asian American adolescents, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. By presenting popular social media posts that depict either stereotypic or counter-stereotypic portrayals of Asian Americans, the study aims to assess adolescents' immediate responses and feelings about themselves. The research will involve 135 Asian American adolescents who will answer questions about their self-perception and social comparisons after viewing these posts. The goal is to identify risk and protective factors that influence their mental health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and interventions to support the mental health of Asian American adolescents affected by social media.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that social media can significantly impact mental health, particularly among minority youth, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Cindy H — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Liu, Cindy H
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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.