Projects

Teens from marginalized groups (e.g., racial/ethnic, LGBTQ+; rural living) are at a much higher risk of mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and behaviors) and substance use than their peers from non-marginalized groups. Loneliness and perceived isolation are well-known predictors of mental health problems, and their prevalence among youth has significantly increased in the last decade. We’re leveraging mixed methods to identify psychosocial, familial, interpersonal (in person and social media) and structural factors that may help reduce loneliness and perceived isolation in marginalized youth.  

Methods include:  

• Online longitudinal surveys 

• Social media data collection 

• Qualitative interviews  

• Establishment of a community-based youth research collaborative  

Funded by the Pitt Momentum Funds.  

Teens who identify as Black or as a sexual and gender minority experience online victimization, or content posted online that intends to or inflicts harm, at alarming rates. Additionally, online victimization puts these teens at a greater risk of depression and suicide. Technology-based interventions may be ideal for teens who’ve experienced online victimization, as they can be confidential, non-stigmatizing, and provide coping skills. Partnering with pediatric primary care to deliver these interventions can expand access to mental health care for minority youth. We developed SMILEY (Social Media Intervention for Online Victimized Youth), a chatbot intervention deployed on social media for minority youth, with the goal of reducing the frequency of online victimization and stress related to online victimization. 

Methods include:  

• Qualitative interviews with teens, caregivers, and providers 

• Rapid iterative and usability testing 

• Clinical trial comparing SMILEY + brief psychoeducation vs. brief psychoeducation 

Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (R34) as part of the ETUDES Center.

LGBTQ+ young adults experience higher rates of depression than heterosexual young adults. They are also heavy users of social media. Social media may provide LGBTQ+ young adults with interactions that improve their mental health (e.g., receiving emotional support), but they may also encounter online content that contributes to their risk of depression (e.g., bullying). We sought to determine the role of social media use on depression among lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults.  

Methods included:  

• Analyzing pre-existing survey data 

• Online focus groups 

• Online longitudinal surveys 

Funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. 

Dollar amount: $1,022,292.00 

LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk of social isolation and depression that heterosexual youth, especially those who live in rural areas. Reducing isolation and increasing access to mental health and LGBTQ+ specific resources is essential for rural LGBTQ+ youth, and social media may fill this need. But social media may also be a conduit for rejection, discrimination, and other negative experiences, potentially increasing social isolation and depression risk. We developed and assessed the acceptability and usability of an evidence-based, social media-delivered psychoeducational intervention to optimize social media use and reduce social isolation among rural LGBTQ+ youth. 

Methods included:  

• Development of five educational modules to target key social media use patterns that lead to social isolation and depression, informed by expert and participant feedback 

• Series of online individual interviews that incorporated elements of human-centered design, affordances framework, iterative design process, and usability testing 

Funded by the ETUDES Center.