Understanding how social media affects Asian American adolescents' mental health

Identifying adolescent social media response in real-time: Risk and protective factors for Asian American mental health

NIH-funded research Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10814674

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 typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10814674 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are Asian American adolescents who actively use social media platforms.

Not a fit: Patients who do not use social media or are not within the adolescent age range may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemiccorona virus disease 2019 epidemiccorona virus disease 2019 pandemiccoronavirus disease 2019 crisiscoronavirus disease 2019 epidemic
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.