Social Media, Smartphone Use and Self-harm in Young People (3S-YP)

King's College London

Status: Completed

Conditions: Self-Harm, Deliberate

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04601220

269104

Details and patient eligibility

About

Self-harm is when somebody hurts their body as a way of coping with difficult feelings. Self-harm is becoming increasingly common in young people, particularly in adolescent females. The rise in self-harm has been linked to increasing use of social media and internet technology among young people. However, the evidence is limited to associations with poorer mental health outcomes rather than identifying particular aspects of using these technologies that can negatively impact on mental health.

This study aims to investigate how the use of social media and a smartphone may increase the risk of self-harm in young people by exploring changes in usage in the period leading up to an episode of self-harm. The information from this study will allow us to understand whether there are certain behaviours that are more likely to occur before an episode of self-harm. This will inform new strategies to identify and provide support to vulnerable young people. For example, linking young people with crisis support or empowering young people to make changes, manage their own risks and build resilience.

This study will recruit young people aged 13-25 years old who have accessed mental health services provided by an NHS Trust in South-East London. Young people will be invited to provide information on their mental health and social media and smartphone use over a period of six months.

Enrollment: 388 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 13 to 25 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Identified via SLaM's C4C patient research participation register or referral to the study team by their clinician.
• Aged 13-25 years old at the time of study approach.
• Accessed mental health services at SLaM in the last 12 months.
• Has capacity to consent (and an adult with parental responsibility for young people aged 13-15 years old). Mental capacity will be assumed unless evidence from a clinician or during contact with the study team suggests otherwise.

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to complete the questionnaires via the study software application or online survey platform.
• Admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward, sectioned under the Mental Health Act or in prison at the time of approach.
• Clinician advises it is not appropriate to approach.