The paper, from authors including Generation Scotland research fellow Dr Zhuoni Xiao, outlines the new mental health study ‘Loneliness in the Digital World’, which is currently recruiting participants: June 2024 Generation Scotland is Scotland’s largest family health study, with over 36,000 participants, and aiming to recruit over 10,000 more. In particular, the Generation Scotland team aims to recruit more young people to help represent the mental and physical health of the youth of Scotland. ‘Loneliness in the Digital World’ was launched and shaped in collaboration with young people from across Scotland. The study, entitled 'Loneliness in the Digital World: protocol for a co-produced ecological momentary assessment study in adolescents' is published in BMJ Open. Read the study here (external link) Image Dr Zhuoni Xiao Loneliness in adolescence is a prevalent and important public health issue, with higher levels of loneliness linking to negative mental and physical health outcomes, such as anxiety and poor sleep quality. This problem has grown since 2020 due to the changes in social interaction methods triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. How social media and online social interactions link to loneliness is particularly understudied in young people.This study uses a youth-centred approach, with a Young Person Advisory Group (YPAG) of ten young people proactively involved in developing the study protocol and shaping the research design. This co-developed protocol utilises increased smartphone usage in this demographic by creating an app-based approach using an 'Ecological Momentary Assessment'. This involves repeatedly sampling of behaviours and experiences in real-time, in a subjects’ natural environment and everyday life. This design allows real-time data to be collected, with young people using an app to answer prompts to report their social interactions, loneliness and moods throughout the day over a 2-week period. This data will then be analysed to answer core research questions about how social interactions (both in-person and online), loneliness and mental health are linked.This study is now entering its second phase and is offering up to £20 compensation to volunteers involved in this important mental health study. Anyone aged 12-15 living in Scotland can take part. I have had many experiences in my life where I have felt lonely, such as living through a pandemic where I couldn’t see my friends, having bad experiences with bullying in school and suffering from a hidden health condition. These have made me realise just how isolated you can feel and how this can affect other aspects of your life. Eva Drummond YPAG member We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the amazing and inspiring YPAG members and researchers who have been instrumental in launching this study. Special thanks go to the following young people for their assistance in designing, co-producing, shaping ideas, providing valuable feedback and piloting the project: ‘Alasdair MacKenzie, Ava Marshall, Brody Pardoe Hay, Daniel Galloway, Eva Drummond, Gareth Stubbs, Jessica Ehimen, Sharon Ehimen, Shuman Zhao, and Tyler Hill. The team also appreciate the contributions of Lorna Caddick, Nan Peng, Ercan Ozdemir, and Dejla Hoxha for their assistance in piloting and offering valuable feedback on the project. Dr Zhuoni Xiao Generation Scotland Research Fellow To find out more and join this study visit the link below or contact the team at genscot_teens@ed.ac.uk with any questions.LinksGeneration Scotland Loneliness Teens (external site) Tags 2024 Publication date 03 Jun, 2024
