Digital Media and
Adolescent Health

Adolescents' use of smartphones and social media has risen dramatically over the past decade; an estimated 95% of adolescents now have access to a smartphone, and almost half report being online "almost constantly". Rates of depression, self-harm, and suicide have also risen over this period, leading some to suggest that digital media use might be harmful to adolescents. 

I seek to better understand the relationship between digital media use and adolescents' mental health through my work as a graduate program assistant on the SMAHRT research team. 

Photo courtesy SMAHRT research team

Selected Publications and Presentations

Minich, M., Moreno, M.A.  (forthcoming) Real-world adolescent smartphone use is associated with short-term mood improvements: An Ecological Momentary Assessment study. PLOS ONE.  

Minich, M., Zhao, Q., Eickhoff, J., Moreno, M.A. (2023) In the mood for music: Listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks improves adolescent moods more than other smartphone uses. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 

Moreno, M. A., Binger, K., Minich, M., Zhao, Q., Eickhoff, J. (2022). Adolescent digital technology interactions and importance: associations with depression and well-being. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 

Moreno, M.A., Binger, K., Zhao, Q., Eickhoff, E., Minich, M., Uhls, Y. (2022) Adolescent digital technology and media use: A latent class analysis. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting. 

Minich, M., Moreno, M.A. Real-world adolescent smartphone use is associated with short-term mood improvements: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study. Undergoing minor revisions for PLOS One. 

Minich, M., Kerr, B.A., Moreno, M.A. (2022, April) Smiling through the pain: A mixed-methods study of adolescent emoji choices and mood. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS), Denver 

Kerr, B.A., Minich, M., Moreno, M.A. (2022, April) Adolescent perspectives on mental health benefits associated with TikTok use. Presented at the annual conference of the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS), Denver