Study: The role of social media in self-harm behaviours among Irish adolescents and young adults

Michelle Teo is a student in the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at Trinity College Dublin conducting a qualitative study for her research dissertation. The aim of the study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of social media on young people who have engaged in self-harm behaviours.

What is involved?

• A brief questionnaire on coping methods and
• An in-person semi-structured interview to be conducted by the researcher

The entire study should take no longer than 60 minutes. Interviews will be recorded but, anonymity and confidentiality will be preserved throughout the study (see Confidentiality below).

Who can take part?

• Irish young people aged 13-25
• Have engaged in self-harm behaviour(s) in the past. Self-harm behaviours are any form of harm to oneself like cutting, burning, scratching, bruising, taking pills, disordered eating, and/or other substance abuse
• Have not self-harmed for the past 18 months

Confidentiality

Anonymity and confidentiality will be preserved throughout the study. That means that no one will know you by name or any personal details. What you say is private unless there is something you say that poses as potentially harmful to you or someone else. Participants will be assigned a code that is only known to the research team. All consent forms, questionnaires and interview transcripts will be locked in a filing cabinet throughout the study. Any electronic data will be stored in a password protected, encrypted data file. Further explanation on confidentiality will be discussed before the start of the study.

If you would like to participate, please email mteo@tcd.ie

This study has been granted ethical approval by the School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin.

Michelle Teo

Counselling Psychologist Trainee

Trinity College Dublin