A longitudinal study investigating TDM and adolescent health and development: Brain, Behavior and well-Being

PROJECT SUMMARY – OVERALL This P01 program grant will establish a fully integrated interdisciplinary program of research Projects and Scientific Cores that are essential to develop a fundamental understanding of the complex interplay between adolescent health and development, and technology and digital media (TDM). Previous evidence has illustrated

TDM’s connections to adolescent risk behaviors such as increased alcohol behavior and social media exposure, as well as relationships to adolescent well-being such as improved socioemotional health and peer social media connections. The goal of the Projects described in this proposal is to address the urgent need to understand how

TDM exposure and usage affect multiple developmental domains and health outcomes. The three PIs are all located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, ensuring close collaboration and synergy, in addition to outstanding institutional support and resources, including matching funds. The Projects include: Project 1: Using

TDM to understand mechanisms in adolescent health and risk behavior. Project 2: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to understand how positive and negative TDM experiences relate to mental and behavioral health. Project 3: Using mixed methods to evaluate self- and other-generated TDM content as predictors of

socioemotional well-being in sexual and gender minority (SGM) and non-SGM adolescents. Each Project utilizes a 2-year longitudinal design and draws from a shared participant pool. Data collection approaches across Projects include observed/measured data including observed social media content and fMRI data, self-reported

participant experiences and perceptions via surveys and interviews, and Ecological Momentary Assessment to capture real-time TDM exposures. To support this program, the Administrative Core (Admin Core) will provide organizational and management support to arrange regular meetings across Program collaborators, involve

students in the research, leverage biostatistical support and promote dissemination. This P01 proposal will include a Recruitment and Retention Core (R&R Core), supporting a shared participant pool across Projects, and ensuring retention over time. This P01 program will promote synergy in these research efforts through

integrated data collection processes over a synergistic longitudinal design, aligned measures and a shared participant pool so that analyses can be structured within and across Projects. This P01 proposal includes a priority on dissemination of findings, both to scientific audiences and to the communities across Wisconsin to

reach those who participated in this research. Thus, this P01 program will enhance the scientific knowledge, ideas and outcomes obtained through the interactions of the 3 Projects, the Admin Core and the R&R Core. This proposed program will provide both the infrastructure support and the scientific approach necessary to advance

data-informed theories and conceptual models addressing how TDM exposure and usage impact developmental trajectories and health outcomes of adolescents. Because of the broad potential for advancing research and possible clinical translation of results, these connected Projects portend an opportunity to improve prevention

and intervention approaches for adolescent health and TDM.