Using Social Networking Sites in Research: An Emerging Approach to Engaging With Young People Who Have a Parent With a Mental Illness and/or Substance Abuse Disorder.

Christine Grové

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00281

Abstract

The challenges involved in engaging young people who have a parent with a mental illness in research and in programs are well documented. Social networking sites provide a potentially useful medium to include at-risk youths and their families by removing some accessibility barriers that may prevent engagement and connection with individuals whose parents or family members have a mental illness. This paper examines how social networking sites can be used to recruit youths and/or their families and engage them in research. Applying a case study analysis, the implications of using social media as a tool for recruitment and data collection and the ethical considerations and limitations will be discussed. Results tentatively indicate that social networking sites may be an effective method to engage young people of parents with a mental illness. The study argues for more informed use of social platforms for the translation and dissemination of research and intervention prevention. Overall, this paper will contribute to public mental health practice through guidelines and policy about social media research with at-risk young people and their families.

Highlights

Young people who have a parent with a mental illness can experience difficulties throughout their lives, sometimes beginning in their early years
Stage 1 of the research project was to explore whether a social networking site could be used to recruit and engage with youths whose parents have a mental illness
During stage 1 of the study, the social networking site Facebook was used in two ways: i) as a recruitment strategy in response to the research objectives and questions, and ii) as a technology-based mechanism for knowledge translation and dissemination with the aim to provide accurate and helpful information about mental health and support for young people and their families

Summary

Introduction

Young people who have a parent with a mental illness can experience difficulties throughout their lives, sometimes beginning in their early years. Research consistently reports higher rates of emotional, behavioral, and developmental difficulties in these youths compared with those in the general community [3], with long-term effects including social and occupational issues [1]. They may experience increased rates of psychiatric disorders through an interplay of both genetic and environmental factors [4]. It could be said that young people who have parents with mental illness

Results

Discussion

Conclusion