Emerging Technologies and Teen Mental Health
Florida International University
Summary
This study will recruit teens who are experiencing subacute suicidal ideation to test the effect of a brief psychoeducational intervention focused on social media use wherein youth learn about active and prosocial use of social media platforms.
Description
This study seeks to test a brief psychoeducational intervention among teens between the ages of 12-17 who experience subacute suicidal ideation (i.e. suicidal ideation which does not necessitate intensive, restrictive services) . Participants will be youth recruited from clinic-referred families and the community at large, as part of ongoing recruitment at the FIU Center for Children and Families. Families interested in the study will complete a screening process, and eligible participants will then provide consent (from parents) and assent (from youth) before beginning the study. The brief ps…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 12–17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Adolescents must (A) be between ages 12 and 17 years * (B) have a positive screen for suicide risk (i.e. endorsement of suicidal ideation via self-report or parent-report) * (C) have access to a personal social media account * (D) be fluent in English * (E) have available a parent who is fluent in English or Spanish. Exclusion Criteria: * Adolescents must not (A) have cognitive impairment or developmental delay which does not allow for the completion of basic study procedures (i.e., reading and filling out questionnaires; talking to a clinician) * (B) show imminent ris…
Interventions
- BehavioralProsociality and Agency in Algorithmic Spaces (PAAS) Module
This intervention involves brief psychoeducation designed to increase algorithmic literacy and encourage prosocial social media engagement. Specifically, a study staff member will discuss with youth how online algorithmic content (e.g., scrollable social media feeds) is shaped by user inputs and platform goals, and will be guided to engage with content related to prosocial topics and engagement. Working collaboratively with the administrator, participants will modify their algorithmic inputs (e.g., likes, searches, follows) in vivo and observe immediate changes in their feed, if any. Parents will receive a handout explaining the topics covered in the psychoeducational session.
Location
- FIU Center for Children and FamiliesMiami, Florida