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

Sponsor

King's College London (Other)

Overall Status

Recruiting

CT.gov ID

NCT04601220

Collaborator

(none)

600

Enrollment

Location

28.9

Anticipated Duration (Months)

20.7

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

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 use of social media and smartphones may increase the risk of self-harm in young people by exploring changes in usage in the time leading up to a self-harm episode. The information from this study will be useful for understanding whether there are certain behaviours that are likely to occur before a young person has an episode of self-harm. This could be used to inform new strategies to identify and ensure support is available to vulnerable young people. This could be by linking young people with crisis support or empowering young people to make changes, manage their own risks and build resilience.

The study will involve young people aged between 13-25 years old who have accessed mental health services in London. Young people will be invited to provide a range of information about their mental health and use of social media and smartphones that will be routinely obtained over the course of a year.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Self-Harm, Deliberate

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Anticipated Enrollment :

600 participants

Observational Model:

Cohort

Time Perspective:

Prospective

Official Title:

Social Media, Smartphone Use and Self-harm in Young People

Actual Study Start Date :

Jun 3, 2021

Anticipated Primary Completion Date :

Nov 1, 2022

Anticipated Study Completion Date :

Nov 1, 2023

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Frequency of self-harm episodes [12 months]
Hospital reported or self-reported episodes of self-harm

Secondary Outcome Measures

Frequency of sleep disturbance symptoms [12 months]
Symptoms of sleep disturbance measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance Short Form V1.0 4a / Pediatric Sleep Disturbance Short Form V1.0 4a. Scores range between 4-20, with higher scores indicative of possible sleep disturbance.
Frequency of depression symptoms [12 months]
Symptoms of depression measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire. Scores range between 0-27, with higher scores indicative of possible depression.
Frequency of anxiety symptoms [12 months]
Symptoms of anxiety measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Scores range between 0-21, with higher scores indicative of possible generalised anxiety disorder.
Frequency of loneliness symptoms [12 months]
Symptoms of loneliness measured using the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Scores range between 3-9, with higher scores indicative of possible loneliness.
Frequency of experiences of bullying [12 months]
Experiences of being bullied measured using an Eight-Item Bullying Checklist derived from the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Scores range between 8-40, with higher scores indicative of more experiences of being bullied.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

13 Years to 25 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Inclusion Criteria:

Young people aged between 13 and 25 years old at the time of recruitment.
Young people who have been referred to secondary mental health services in London within the past 12 months.
Young people who have been identified from the mental health research participation register or direct referral from a clinician.
Young people who have the mental capacity to consent.
For young people who are less than 16 years old, the adult with parental responsibility must also have the capacity to consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Young people aged less than 13 or more than 25 years old at the time of recruitment.
Young people who have not had been referred to secondary mental health services in London within the past 12 months.
Young people who have not been identified from a mental health research participation register or direct referral from a clinician.
Young people who lack the mental capacity to consent.
For young people who are less than 16 years old, the adult with parental responsibility does not have the capacity to consent.
Young people who are unable to complete the self-report measures via the study software application or an online survey platform.
Young people admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward at the time of recruitment.
Young people who require a consultant to be notified of the research prior to contact, as this may indicate higher risk.
Young people who are pregnant at the time of approach.