I study how teens’ social media use impacts their social and emotional health, including relationships with peers, depressive symptoms, suicide risk, sleep, and health-risk behaviors. I conduct both qualitative and quantitative research on these topics.

I am studying how social media use affects risk for suicide among adolescents. I use many different methods in this work, including online experimental tasks, eye-tracking, self-report measures, qualitative interviews, and machine learning analyses of social media data. (Funding: NIMH, AFSP)

Using ecological momentary assessment, qualitative interviews, and an observational interaction task, Dr. Jennifer Wolff and I are investigating how parents can more effectively manage their teens’ social media use. (Funding: NICHD)

Nesi, J., Telzer, E.H., Prinstein, M.J. (2020). Adolescent development in the digital media context. Psychological Inquiry.

Nesi, J., Rothenberg, W.A., Bettis, A.H., Massing-Schaffer, M., Fox, K.A., Telzer, E.H., Lindquist, K.A., Prinstein, M.J. (2021). Emotional responses to social media experiences among adolescents: Longitudinal associations with depressive symptoms. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Nesi, J., Burke, T.A., Bettis, A.H., Kudinova, A.Y., Thompson, E.C., MacPherson, H.A., Fox, K.A., Lawrence, H.R., Thomas, S.A., Wolff, J.C., Altemus, M.K., Soriano, S., & Liu, R.T. (2021). Social media use and self-injurious thoughts and behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review

Nesi, J., Choukas-Bradley, S., Maheux, A.J., Roberts, S.R., Sanzari, C., Widman, L., & Prinstein, M.J. (2021). Selfie appearance investment and peer feedback concern: Multi-method investigation of adolescent selfie practices and adjustment. Psychology of Popular Media.

Nesi, J., Burke, T.A., Lawrence, H.R., MacPherson, H.A., Spirito, A., & Wolff, J. (2021). Online self-injury activities among psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents: Prevalence, functions, and perceived consequences. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology.

Nesi, J., Choukas-Bradley, S. & Prinstein, M.J. (2018). Transformation of adolescent peer relations in the social media context: Part 1—A theoretical review and application to dyadic peer relationships. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review.