Fast Facts
Teens aged 14-16 years old with a smartphone & a participating parent
Parent and child both write and speak English
Compensation up to $515
Conducted in Pennsylvania & Remotely Nationwide
Additional Information
The BOLT Study is being done to learn more about how teens use digital media and how online experiences may support or affect their social connections, emotions, and anxiety. Researchers hope to better understand why digital media use may be helpful for some teens and harmful for others.
Your family may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ages 14-16 years old
- Teen has a smartphone
- Parent and child both write and speak english
- Teen is not diagnosed with neurological conditions
- Teen and parent live in the United States
The BOLT Study takes place over about one year and includes three timepoints:
- Onboarding: You and your teen will attend a 30-minute Zoom session to learn more about the study, complete consent and assent, choose remote or hybrid participation, install the Wear-It app on your teen’s mobile device, and schedule the first study activities.
- Timepoint 1: You and your teen will complete online questionnaires and interviews about your teen’s emotions, social experiences, and possible anxiety symptoms. Your teen will also complete one computerized task each day and four short questionnaires through the Wear-It app for 10 consecutive days. Hybrid participants will also attend a lab visit of approximately two hours.
- Timepoint 2: About six months later, your teen will complete one computerized task each day and four short questionnaires through the Wear-It app.
- Timepoint 3: About one year after Timepoint 1, you and your teen will repeat the questionnaires and interviews. Your teen will again complete one computerized task each day and four short questionnaires through the Wear-It app for 10 consecutive days. Hybrid participants will also attend a second approximately two-hour lab visit.
Families can choose to participate completely remotely. Families in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas may also choose hybrid participation, which includes two in-person visits at the Emotion Development Lab at Penn State University Park.
Families can receive up to $515 in total compensation over the course of the study. Families who participate in the in-person visits will receive a free parking voucher for the parking garage next to the lab, and families traveling to the lab may be reimbursed for eligible travel costs. Teens can also receive a snack upon request and a small BOLT swag bag with study-logo materials.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.