To help better understand the impact isolation and social distancing has on youth, Western University is leading a research study that examines how social media use and a lack of social connectedness has affected the health and wellbeing of young people during COVID-19.
Shauna Burke, Health Studies professor and principal investigator of the iBelong research study, and her team of researchers at Western and Lakehead University, have asked youth about their attitudes around social media and their feelings towards mandated physical distancing measures as they continue to be isolated from their peers during a time in their lives when social interactions are so important.
Based on these findings, the researchers aim to further investigate how social media is both helping and hindering various aspects of their lives during the pandemic in order to help promote overall mental wellbeing, physical distancing adherence and inform future outreach and intervention initiatives.
To learn more, visit Western University.
