Student ID:

Protocol assi nment

Exploring the impact of social media on self-esteem and
suicidal behavior in teenagers
Principle Investigator:
Version Number 1:1
Date: 05-02-2024
 1. Research Team Members

1.1 Principal Investigator

Investigator Name
Contact Details .
Role Principal Investigator
Responsibilities & tasks in this research project  Writing the proposal, grant
requests and selecting team
members.
 Report to the sponsor, the
funding organization
 Ensure that the team members
have the information, resources and
training they need to conduct the
research

Relevant Qualifications MA in Clinical Research

Experience relevant in this project 5 years of leading clinical trials

1.2 Research Associate

Investigator Name
Contact Details
Role Research associate
Responsibilities & tasks in this research project  Carry out the research and
collect the data

Relevant Qualifications PhD in Psychology with a focus on teenager

psychology
Experience relevant in this project 10 years of conducting research studies at
University Health Network (UHN)

1.3 Research Assistant 1

Investigator Name
Contact Details
Role Research assistant
Responsibilities & tasks in this research project  Screening and selecting eligible
participants for the study through
preparing the eligibility criteria and
 sending it invitations through email
and phone messages

Relevant Qualifications Degree in Clinical Research

Experience relevant in this project 3 years of counselling adolescents battling
anxiety and depression

1.4 Research assistant 2

Investigator Name
Contact Details
Role Research assistant
Responsibilities & tasks in this research project  Preparing the survey
questions for eligible participants

Relevant Qualifications Degree in Clinical Research

Experience relevant in this project 2 years of research experience

1.5 Statistician:
Investigator Name
Contact Details
Role Statistician
Responsibilities & tasks in this research project  Analyze and report data
Relevant Qualifications MSc in Statistics
Experience relevant in this project 5 years of data analysis experience

2. Research question

How does the interaction between teenagers and influencers on social media affect the

teenager’s self-esteem and mental health, specifically in social comparison and materialism in

sub-urban settings? In what ways does the exposure of teenagers to idealized body images on

social media cause body dissatisfaction and result in lower self-esteem? How does cyberbullying

on various social media platforms impact the self-esteem of teenage girls in urban areas?

3. Hypothesis

We predict that the risks of committing suicide among adolescents would be higher when

they spend more time on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. We further

speculate that if teenagers are constantly exposed to personalized content on social media, their
self-esteem may decline due to comparison and desire to conform to what they see on social

media. Potentially, this would lead to an increased tendency among teenagers to think along

suicidal lines.

4. Introduction

Social media usage has skyrocketed massively in recent years. It has since become a part of

our everyday life and has served as a meaningful tool for communication. The use of social

media has many significant benefits to society and has greatly contributed to the establishment of

efficient global communication. Both adults and adolescents are using various social media

platforms to establish and maintain connections, expand their networks, and learn about global

issues.

Social media has many advantages. Through social media, teenage school-going children can

gain access to several educational resources that can provide them with an opportunity to learn

more in their bid to expand their knowledge base. Social media enable teenagers to link up with

their peers regardless of the physical distance that may exist between them. The enhanced

connectivity between peers facilitates cultural exchange and enhances cross-cultural

understanding (Güney, 2023). Teenagers can also use social media as a platform to creatively

express their pieces of art and content which may greatly boost their feeling of self-confidence.

However, social media can also be detrimental to teenagers. In the last decade, there have

been lots of mental health concerns. There have been more reports on mental illness like anxiety

and depression due to the effects of social media in North America (Güney, 2023). Most parents

and educators have shown concern about the effects of social media on the self-esteem of

teenagers and the possibility of suicidal ideation among teenagers due to the effects. Recent

studies have shown that social media platforms have become breeding grounds for cyber-related
crimes and harassment which are believed to be largely consequential to mental health (Balas et

al., 2023). The rate of teenagers reporting a degree of mental distress in Ontario has increased

from 24% in 2018 to 39% in 2022 (Kerr & Kingsbury, 2023). These statistics have been tied to

internet addiction which has been identified in several studies.

5. Background and Rationale

The effect of social media use on teenage mental health and suicide ideation is a complex

problem that needs serious intervention. This is because it is a novel issue that cannot be

overlooked due to its effects on vulnerable groups and the entire society. In our research, we aim

to provide an up-to-date review of the risks that relate to social media usage that can cause self-

harm in teenagers. Some of the factors that we will have to look into include exposure to harmful

content, cyberbullying, and self-validation issues which can lower one’s self-esteem. The

research’s ultimate goal is to provide information that can practically guide mental health

professionals who work with vulnerable youths. The research also intends to provide information

that would generally contribute to additional knowledge on the interrelationship between social

media and mental health

6. Research Objectives

The study's objective is to assess the effects of the prevalence of social media use among

teenagers as it relates to their mental well-being and self-esteem. The study aims to examine the

correlation between the use of social media and self-esteem levels among teenagers. The study

will also attempt to find out the causes of increasing social media usage among teenagers. Study

design. We used both quantitative and qualitative methodology during this study.

7. Study Design

Study Procedures and Recruitment Efforts

 We will use both quantitative and qualitative methodology during this study. In the

study’s procedure, participants will be presented with a complete series of questionnaires that

will aim to assess their social media use, self-esteem, and mental wellbeing. The participants

will be asked to provide demographic information such as age, their socio-economic status as

well as gender. A multi-dimensional approach will be used in the recruitment process. We will

make use of social media advertisements, distribute flyers in various earning institutions, and

make announcements in relevant distribution forums to reach more teenagers in Ontario. We

will consider placing the recruitment posters in strategic places like youth centers. We would

also consider a collaboration with mental health professionals and counselors to inform and

encourage eligible teenagers to take part in the study

Intervention Design

The study utilizes a cross-sectional design to study the association between using social

media and suicidal tendencies among teenagers and the role of self-esteem in mediating that

effect. The design embraces more observation in its quest to assess the impacts of social media

on suicidal behavior and self-esteem. Beck scales can be used to measure tendencies toward

suicidal behavior. The design makes it easier to collect data at a single point and provides an

easy-to-understand snapshot of the relationships between the variables. During analysis, we will

specifically look for the correlation that exists between suicidal tendencies and the usage of

social media. We will also focus on the role played by self-esteem in mediating the effects of

social media usage. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and group comparisons using

statistical software will be used.

Data Collection
 Online surveys will be used to gather information from eligible participants. We will

ensure we use secure links that will be sent to the participants via their email addresses. It’s

through the links that the online surveys will be conducted. The information will be used in

assessing social media usage patterns, perceived impact on connections, and the quality of

interpersonal relationships. Questions about the duration spent on social media daily would be

helpful in the extraction of information. Additionally, we will explore the experiences of the

participants and their social media usage patterns. The exploration will be done in a bid to

understand how the use of social media affects their suicidal thoughts, self-esteem, and mental

health.

Sample Size Calculation

The participants will be selected by use of stratified random samples. The samples would

include adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years. The participants will be divided into groups

according to their exposure to social media. Groups for adolescents who don't use social media.

Adolescent social media users are then subdivided into groups based on their level of exposure to

social media. The exposure is determined through participants' self-reports on the platforms they

use, the duration, and the purpose of use. The sample size of the study will be calculated based

on the estimated attrition rate, desired power levels as well as anticipated effect size. We target a

sample size of 500 participant teenagers. We believe with the sample size; our research can have

a significant statistical power that can be very helpful in the determination of meaningful effects.

Feasibility of the Study

Considering the resources available for the research study and the research objectives, the

study design is feasible. The design of the recruitment efforts will enable a wider reach to a large

number of potential participants in Ontario. The proposed online survey format will make the
data collection process economical and efficient. Even though the feasibility of the study looks

promising, we fear that some participants may drop out which may reduce the representativeness

of the samples.

8. Study Instruments

Informed Consent

Before the actual study, all the participants will be educated on the aims of the study to

enlighten them about what the study entails. We believe prior education will enable them to

make informed consent. We will also provide them with a consent form that restates the

purpose of the study, the procedures that would be involved, the potential risks that may arise

due to the study, and the benefits that will accrue from their participation. The participants will

be informed that their withdrawal from the study will not attract any penalty.

Ethical Considerations

The study will adhere to all the relevant ethical requirements. We understand that there

are potential risks to the participants since the study can make them provide their confidential

information and make them suffer mental distress. We will carefully implement our study

designs to avoid potential risks. The participant's data will be safely kept and all the participants

will be assured of the safety of their data. We will leave behind support contacts that can be

used in case post-study support may be needed.

9. Data Analysis and Entry

Data Analysis Methods

In the study, statistical and qualitative methods of data entry and analysis will be used.

Descriptive statistics will help in the summarization of the key variables in the samples and the

determination of the unique characteristics of the sample. Inferential statistical techniques like
 correlation and regression analysis will be used to measure the relationship that exists between

suicidal behaviors, social media use, and self-esteem levels among teenagers. Various data

analysis tools will be used to analyze the collected data during the study. We understand that the

in-depth interviews will provide us with qualitative data. We will use thematic qualitative

analysis techniques to transcribe and analyze such data. This technique will enable easy

identification of the patterns in the variables being studied and their relationships. The statistical

and qualitative data analysis methods will help in the comprehensive analysis of the collected

data.

Procedures for Data Entry

We will hire trained research assistants to conduct the data entry procedures in our secure

online platforms. The data from the survey response will directly be keyed into the platforms to

guarantee their accuracy. To minimize the chances of errors and discrepancies in the data, we

will use a double data entry system. Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems will be very useful

in the management of the collected data. ECD system will provide a secure way for the

collection, analysis, interpretation, and storage of the data. We will use the ECD system because

of its ability to enable real-time monitoring of the data processing procedures. The systems will

enable us to identify errors quickly and respond appropriately.

10. Knowledge Dissemination Plan

Inclusion Criteria

Eligible participants must be:

i. Adolescents of different genders between the ages of 13 and 18.

ii. Use social media in terms of hours spent daily or weekly on social media

iii. Speak and comprehend English

 iv. Residents of Ontario are eligible to participate

Targeted participants and Audience

The targeted participants for the study are adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years. The

findings of the study will be of great significance to researchers, professionals in the field of

mental health, parents the teenagers, educators, and policy regulatory bodies. We believe that

even the teenagers themselves will find the findings of the study useful. The findings will

provide them with insight into the effects that social media addiction has on their self-esteem

levels, suicidal thoughts, and mental health.

Dissemination Plan

Various communication channels will be used to disseminate the findings of the research

study. We will use peer-reviewed journals, workshops, and conferences to disseminate the

findings. We will also make us of our research team’s website to post a summary of the findings

which can be accessed by anyone. Various social media platforms will be used to share the key

findings of the research to create a wider reach. We believe that collaboration with various

relevant agencies and organizations will help in easing the dissemination of the findings.

Timeline

Data will be collected between June and July 2024. During the data collection process,

techniques such as surveys and interviews will be used. The data collection sessions with each

participant would take approximately 10 minutes. Some intervention measures that would be

recommended for implementation include an introduction of educational programs on the safe

use of social media. There would be two groups among the participants, social media users and

non-users. The two groups will be compared based on their mental well-being and self-esteem
levels. Standardized scales will be utilized to measure the outcomes and to assess the impacts of

social media usage on both self-esteem and suicidal behavior among teenagers.
 References

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Cyberbullying in teenagers–a true burden in the era of online

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