Online social networking mechanisms of suicide in adolescents

About This Grant

Project Summary Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death amongst adolescents. Interpersonal dysfunction is a significant risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), but it is primarily assessed through self-report methods that are inherently problematic due to subjective retrospective recall bias. By depending on self-report of interpersonal functioning, we overlook crucial information about how at-risk youth are interacting with others. To address these gaps, this K23 proposes mentorship in online social networking (OSN) as an objective, ecologically valid assessment of interpersonal behavior (i.e., texting, engagement on social media) in adolescents with STBs. The research aims of the study are to (1) establish active online interpersonal behavior mechanisms in adolescents with STBs, (2) determine passive online interpersonal behavior mechanisms in adolescents with STBs, and (3) identify mediators (e.g., psychopathology, biological sex) relevant to the relationship between OSN and STBs. Multimodal data (OSN, self/parent/clinician report) will be collected from N=84 13–17-year-olds, with the full range of STBs. One month of active (i.e., texting/posting frequency) and passive (i.e., ratio of time spent on apps to texting, inter-day app/platform switching) OSN data will be collected from adolescents’ smartphones and analyzed using mentored statistical approaches to multimodal data including structural equation modeling (SEM). The candidate proposes training in (1) use of OSN as a real- world assessment of interpersonal functioning behaviors in adolescents, (2) gaining expertise in the relationship between STBs and OSN in adolescents, and (3) gaining skills with relevant multimodal data analysis (e.g., SEM) to understand what psychosocial factors may mediate OSN behavioral mechanisms and suicide risk. A team of multi-disciplinary mentors bring expertise in adolescent developmental psychopathology, computer science, interpersonal functioning, and translational research. Combined with the relevant and diverse resources available at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School will ensure this candidate receives the necessary training and support to successfully complete the project and launch the candidate’s career in adolescent suicide prevention. Data will directly inform future R01s leveraging this information to prevent suicide risk in adolescents, including (1) probing diagnostic/assessment specificity, (2) using experimental therapeutics to evaluate change in detected interpersonal behavior mechanisms following established evidence-based treatments for STBs, and (3) the development of mechanism-informed just-in-time adaptive social media/mobile health interventions. Completion of the proposed research and training goals will uniquely position the candidate to become a leader in the highly relevant field of adolescent social media and suicide prevention.