Co-produced Feasibility Studies on Adolescent Health using Digital Methods

About this seminar:

This session will include presentations on two different projects, both led by Professor Heather Whalley. Speakers at this event include Dr Zhuoni Zhou, Sarah Robertson, Lorna Caddick and Professor Heather Whalley.

Project 1: Loneliness in the Digital World: Co-produced Ecological Momentary Assessment Study in Adolescents

Outline: Loneliness is a significant public health concern, especially during adolescence. While positive social interaction can protect against loneliness, it's unclear how in-person and online interactions differentially affect adolescents' loneliness and mental health. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) is well-suited to explore these associations in real time.In the ‘Loneliness in the Digital World’ study, we used a co-developed EMA design and online surveys to track daily social interactions, loneliness, and mental health in around 200 adolescents aged 12–15. Using dynamic structural equation modelling, we will explore how online, and in-person interactions relate to loneliness, with the aim of informing interventions for youth experiencing high loneliness and poor mental health. In the presentation, we will talk about the co-production process, study design, problems we encounter and preliminary results.

Project 2: Ambient-Teens Sleep Study: Feasibility of Longitudinal Measurement of Sleep using Radar Technology in Adolescents

Outline: Sleep patterns are known to shift over adolescence. Many reports indicate that children and teenagers do not get enough routine sleep, putting them at greater risk of poor health and educational outcomes. Current methods of measuring sleep (polysomnography and wearable accelerometers) are not well-tolerated, particularly for longitudinal measurement. Novel contactless radar-based sleep sensors have yet to be explored in terms of feasibility, acceptability and operability, especially in adolescents.In the ‘Ambient-Teens Sleep Study’, we engaged 48 adolescents, aged 8-18, to complete 4 weeks of sleep measurement via contactless radar sensor, compared concurrently with a sleep diary and accelerometer for 2 weeks. Participants, across all age ranges, accepted the contactless sleep sensor and favoured it over accelerometery, with higher rates of data completion. In this presentation we will explore, the methods used, feedback from adolescents, challenges identified working with radar sensors and preliminary results.

About the speakers:

Professor Heather Whalley is based at the University of Edinburgh, where she is currently a Professor of Neuroscience and Mental Health at the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences. Professor Whalley is also the Chief Scientist for Generation Scotland. Her main research interests lie in understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of neuropsychiatric disorders using genomic and neuroimaging approaches. Professor Whalley is the Principal Investigator for both the Ambient-Teens Sleep Study and the Loneliness in the Digital World study.

Dr Zhuoni Xiao is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, where she works on the Loneliness in the Digital World project.

Sarah Robertson is the Youth Engagement Lead for Generation Scotland at the University of Edinburgh, where she works on the Loneliness in the Digital World project.

Lorna Caddick is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, where she works on the Ambient-Teens Sleep Study.

The Contextual Mental Health (CMH) research group at the University of Edinburgh, led by Professor Matthias Schwannauer, hosts a monthly seminar series that brings together multi-disciplinary researchers and practitioners to explore the factors that influence mental health.

Seminars have a hybrid format (in-person and online, via MS Teams). Presentations are usually around 30 minutes, followed by discussion. All are welcome.

Research projects carried out within the CMH group focus on understanding the contextual factors that may affect an individual's mental health, as well as how digital technology can support individuals' mental health needs. Further information about the group can be found here.

This year the seminar series is convened by Rowena Piers, Koraima Sotomayor-Enriquez, Veronika Kassova, and Alisa Mandrigin.