Understanding how social media impacts the teen brain and depression
Development of a New Social Media fMRI Task to Better Investigate Bidirectional Links Between Social Media Use and Emotional Health in Youth
NA · University of Pittsburgh · NCT06817993
This study is testing how using social media affects the feelings and brain activity of teenagers who show signs of depression.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 13 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Pittsburgh (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT06817993 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to explore the effects of social media use on the emotional health of adolescents, particularly focusing on depression. It involves developing and validating a new task called the TeenBrainOnline (TBO) Task, which simulates social media interactions and assesses brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and eye-tracking. Participants aged 13-17 with depressive symptoms will complete the TBO and another task called Chatroom Interact (CHAT-I) during fMRI sessions, alongside daily surveys of their social media use and depressive symptoms. The study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the neural correlates of social media's impact on mental health.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adolescents aged 13-17 who exhibit mild to moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms and actively use social media.
Not a fit: Patients with serious neurological or medical conditions, cognitive impairments, or those unable to participate in MRI due to contraindications may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into how social media affects adolescent mental health, potentially leading to better interventions for depression.
How similar studies have performed: While there is limited research specifically using this approach, studies examining the relationship between social media and mental health have shown promising results, indicating a growing interest in this area.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Between ages 13-17 * Depression screening scores on the MFQ-C in the mild (MFQ = 12-25; N = 20) or moderate-to-severe range (MFQ ≥25; N=30) * Possess their own smartphone to complete web-based ecological momentary assessments (EMA) using WebDataExpress. * use social media apps (e.g. Instagram, twitter, reddit, discord, YouTube, etc.) at least 3 times a week, on average, per teen report Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of a serious neurological or medical condition, by parent report * Unable to read or speak English or cognitive impairment preventing ability to complete assessments. * Hearing impairment preventing ability to hear and understand instructions conveyed via headphones in the MRI scanner * Possible pregnancy, as determined by participant report * Presence of probable substance use disorder, as determined by participant report * Presence of MRI contraindications (e.g., dental braces, history of metallic foreign objects in body such as aneurysm clips or other devices or questionable history of metallic fragments, claustrophobia, or a weight of above 300 lbs) * Taking medications that affect the central nervous system other than antidepressants (stable dose allowed due to high rates of use among teens with depressive symptoms) or stimulants if required 36 hours before the scan. * Completion of Chatroom Interact Task or TBO Task in prior studies * Screening positive on the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, or screening positive on the Youth Inventory-4/ for a potential psychotic disorder or substance use disorder.
Where this trial is running
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jennifer S Silk, Ph.D — University of Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Jennifer S Silk, Ph.D
- Email: jss4@pitt.edu
- Phone: 412-624-4428
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Depression, Adolescent, Teen, Social Media, Social Acceptance, Social Rejection, fMRI, Neuroimaging