Research Lines
1. New digital media & mental health
In this research line, I focus on the effects of several forms of new digital media (e.g., online short videos on social media, AI, apps) and the effects on mental health. For the studies belonging to this line, a person-specific approach is often employed to research individual differences in terms of media effects, mental health, or the relation between the two. In addition, the insights gained in these studies is used as input to develop mental health messages or interventions, in collaboration with mental healthcare organizations. For one of the projects within this line (MPOWER project), I co-supervise a PhD student who studies to what extent, under which circumstances, and for which adolescents mental health information in new social media messages (i.e., online short videos/reels) may be beneficial or detrimental in terms of their wellbeing. Other projects have focused on the mental health information needs of young adults, their motivations to use social media to fulfill those needs, and the effects of using social media and encountering mental health information on their wellbeing, but also on the effects of AI generated mental health messages and how adolescents/young adults interact with chatbots about their mental health.
2. Digitalization in mental healthcare & inequality
Within this research line I build upon my experience from the MentalHealth4All project and aim for inclusive research practices, inclusive development and evaluation of mental health materials, and inclusive mental healthcare. This goes hand in hand with research on how the use of new digital media differs based on individual characteristics (e.g., ethnic background, socio-economic status, media/health literacy) an how we could use this information to develop digital mental health messages/interventions without increasing the digital divide. Current projects within this research line are studies on how the use of digital media for ones mental health differs based on individual characteristics and how this develops over time and studies into population-specific information needs and barriers of using digital media for ones mental health.
Research Projects
Project 1: MentalHealth4All
Mental health problems affect about 84 million people across the EU. Refugees and other migrants are particularly at risk of developing mental health problems due to stressors they encounter before, during, and after their migration process. Prevalence rates for some mental health problems, such as posttraumatic stress and psychotic disorders, are higher among refugees and migrants compared to non-migrant populations. Even though many refugees and migrants need treatment for their mental health problems, they have great difficulties in accessing mental healthcare services, particularly those who do not speak the dominant language of their host country. Furthermore, if they succeed in gaining access to mental healthcare services, treatment often lacks cultural and linguistic sensitivity, resulting in inadequate care.
More information: https://www.mhealth4all.eu/
Project 2: MPOWER
Empowering vulnerable youth to use social media as an information source on their mental health issues
The prevalence of anxiety- and depression-related complaints in adolescents and emerging adults has risen over the last decade, but youth face barriers when seeking professional help. Many therefore rely on social media for mental health information. Online short videos (OSVs) are a new form of online health information, which may come with risks and benefits for susceptible adolescents and emerging adults (e.g., misinformation and accessible psychoeducation respectively). In this project, we aim to understand to what extent, under which circumstances, and for whom mental health information in OSVs may be beneficial or detrimental. We will explore the information needs and mental health-related OSV consumption of adolescents and emerging adults with anxiety- and depression-related complaints, and how their OSV consumption is related to their well-being. These findings will be used to develop and test a brief intervention to improve mental well-being.
More information: https://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva/organisation/faculties/faculty-of-social-and-behavioural-sciences/research/priority-areas-and-research-centres/youth-digitality/youth-digitality.html