Mental Health in the Digital Age Lab
Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University
Youth's Digital Wellness
Study and Participant Information
You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by the Mental Health in the Digital Age Lab, titled Youth’s Digital Wellness. This page provides detailed information about the study to help you decide whether you want to participate.
A PDF of the Participant and Study Information Sheet, along with a link to the consent form, will be accessible at the bottom of the page.
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This study has been reviewed by the Ontario Tech University Research Ethics Board #17834 on July 11, 2024.
Purpose of Study
We’re interested in how youth like you experience digital wellness.
More specifically, we want to know:
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What does digital wellness mean to you, and based on your experiences, what are the important skills for it?
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How do your feelings influence your digital wellness?
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Based on your experiences, what strategies would you use to promote digital wellness to your peers?
Your experiences and perspectives are unique and valuable. They help us determine ways to improve technology and digital life for you and others. We want to understand your needs and how we can help you feel good in the digital age. This research is about looking out for your mental health and making technology work better for you.
Inclusion Criteria
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Be between the ages of 13 and 24 years old
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Attending high school, college, or university
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Living in Canada
Procedures
You will be asked to:​
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Fill out an online pre-and-post survey.
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​Each survey will take approx. 20-30 minutes to collect insights about your digital habits, perceptions, and attitudes towards digital wellness.
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Participate in an interview.
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The interview will be conducted online via Zoom and is expected to span approximately 50-60 minutes. During this session, we aim to gather insights into your experiences and perspectives on digital wellness.
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Consider joining an optional focus group discussion
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The online focus group conducted via Zoom will delve into themes concerning digital wellness and strategies tailored for youth, with an anticipated duration of around 60 minutes.
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Duration
Your participation in the study, which encompasses the pre-and-post surveys, individual interviews, and optional focus group discussions, is anticipated to require 2-3 hours from September 2024 to March 2025. ​
Voluntary Participation
Participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw at any time without penalty or consequence. Your decision to participate or not will not affect your current or future relationship with Ontario Tech University.
Confidentiality
Your responses and personal information will be kept strictly confidential. All data collected will be anonymised, and access will be restricted to authorized personnel only. You will not be named in any reports, publications, or presentations that may come from this study.
Risks
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Privacy and Confidentiality (Low Risk)
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Potential risk of participant privacy breaches in online interactions. We aim to mitigate this risk with anonymisation.
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Emotional Distress (Low Risk)
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Engaging in discussions about digital wellness may evoke emotional responses, which will be managed through clear explanations, sensitive facilitation, and psychotherapist support if needed.
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Benefits
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Increased Awareness and Understanding
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Gain deeper insights into digital wellness, fostering self-reflection and personal growth.
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Personal Empowerment
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Voice opinions and experiences, fostering a sense of control over digital lives.
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Contributing to Research
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Actively contribute to knowledge advancement in digital wellness, enriching data for future research.
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Informing and Educational Initiatives
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Insights inform the development of educational initiatives, interventions, and programs promoting digital wellness.
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Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns or would like more information about the study, please feel free to contact:
Dr. Jennifer Laffier
Principal Investigator
jennifer.laffier@ontariotechu.ca
Aalyia Rehman
Student Lead
aalyia.rehman@ontariotechu.net
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If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this study, complaints, or adverse events, please contact the Research Ethics Office at (905) 721-8668 ext. 3693 or at researchethics@ontariotechu.ca.
Consent Form
​If you wish to take part in this study, kindly fill out the consent form provided here (click button or link below):
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Participant and Study Information (PDF)
Should you wish to download the Participant and Study Information, please click the button below.
