Fast Facts
Teens (ages 12-17) assigned female at birth
Experienced suicidal thoughts or self-harmed within the past year
Compensation
up to $420
Conducted in
Pittsburgh, PA
Study Background
The STARS Study is a research project at the University of Pittsburgh focused on understanding how teens process social information and how this relates to their relationships and thoughts of suicide. In recent years, more teens have been experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. We hope this study will help us understand why some teens experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors and other teens do not.
Teens ages 12-17 will participate in three study visits and complete follow-up questionnaires over the course of six months. One of the study visits can be completed remotely while two of the visits will take place in-person on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. During these visits, teens will complete EEG assessments that measure brain activity and have conversations with their parent while we measure attention and body responses. Participants will also complete daily surveys about moods and behaviors on their own phones for a 30-day period. No medications or treatments are involved.
If you are 12-17 years old, have thoughts about suicide or self-harm, and own an iPhone, you could contribute to research meant to help teens like you. Find out if you are eligible to participate!
Additional Information
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Teens ages 12-17 who were assigned female at birth
- Experienced suicidal thoughts or self-harmed within the past year
- Own an iPhone
- Have a parent or guardian who is also willing to participate
Exclusion Criteria:
- No history of autism
- No history of intellectual disability
- No current psychotic disorder
- No current substance use disorder
- No major neurological conditions that would interfere with study participation
Overall Duration
This study lasts about 6 months. During this time, participants will complete three study visits and answer short follow-up questionnaires.
Study visits:
Participants will complete two in-person visits at the University of Pittsburgh and one remote visit.
Visit 1 (remote): A clinical interview and questionnaires about mood, thoughts, and behavior
Visit 2 (in-person): Brain activity recording using EEG (a painless test that measures brain signals) while completing computer-based tasks
Visit 3 (in-person): Interactive tasks with a parent and possibly a friend while we measure attention and physical responses
Study visits may be audio and/or video recorded to help researchers review responses more accurately. No medical treatments or medications are involved.
At-Home Activities
For 30 days, participants will complete short daily surveys on their own iPhone. These surveys ask about mood, thoughts, and daily experiences. Each survey takes only a few minutes and is done several times a day.
Participants will also complete a few follow-up questionnaires during the study period. All responses are private and stored securely. Only the research team can access the data, and it is used only for research purposes.
Please note that teens will also be asked to provide information about their digital communications.
Participants may receive up to $420 for their time. Transportation support (such as bus passes) may also be available for those who need it.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.