IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cog/meanco/v4y2016i3p13-23.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Teens, Health and Technology: A National Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Ellen Wartella

    (Department of Communication, Northwestern University, USA)

  • Vicky Rideout

    (VJR Consulting, USA)

  • Heather Montague

    (Department of Communication, Northwestern University, USA)

  • Leanne Beaudoin-Ryan

    (Department of Communication, Northwestern University, USA)

  • Alexis Lauricella

    (Department of Communication, Northwestern University, USA)

Abstract

In the age of digital technology, as teens seem to be constantly connected online, via social media, and through mobile applications, it is no surprise that they increasingly turn to digital media to answer their health questions. This study is the first of its kind to survey a large, nationally-representative sample of teens to investigate how they use the newest digital technologies, including mobile apps, social networking sites, electronic gaming and wearable devices, to explore health topics. The survey covered the types of health topics teens most frequently search for, which technologies they are most likely to use and how they use them, and whether they report having changed their behaviors due to digital health information. In addition, this survey explores how the digital divide continues to impact adolescents. Results of this study indicate that teens are concerned about many health issues, ranging from fitness, sexual activity, drugs, hygiene as well as mental health and stress. As teens virtually always have a digital device at their fingertips, it is clear that public health interventions and informational campaigns must be tailored to reflect the ways that teens currently navigate digital health information and the health challenges that concern them most.

Suggested Citation

  • Ellen Wartella & Vicky Rideout & Heather Montague & Leanne Beaudoin-Ryan & Alexis Lauricella, 2016. "Teens, Health and Technology: A National Survey," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(3), pages 13-23.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:meanco:v4:y:2016:i:3:p:13-23
    DOI: 10.17645/mac.v4i3.515
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/515
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.17645/mac.v4i3.515?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Levine, D. & McCright, J. & Dobkin, L. & Woodruff, A.J. & Klausner, J.D., 2008. "SEXINFO: A sexual health text messaging service for San Francisco youth," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(3), pages 393-395.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Martha J. Decker & Nancy F. Berglas & Claire D. Brindis, 2015. "A Call to Action: Developing and Strengthening New Strategies to Promote Adolescent Sexual Health," Societies, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-27, October.
    2. Ellie Cherryhomes & Shannon Guillot-Wright, 2023. "Dissemination and Implementation of a Text Messaging Campaign to Improve Health Disparities among Im/Migrant Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Ellen Wartella & Vicky Rideout & Heather Montague & Leanne Beaudoin-Ryan & Alexis Lauricella, 2016. "Teens, Health and Technology: A National Survey," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(3), pages 13-23.
    4. Barak, Adi & Spielberger, Julie & Gitlow, Elissa, 2014. "The challenge of relationships and fidelity: Home visitors' perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 50-58.
    5. Sonia Livingstone & Jessica Mason, 2015. "Sexual rights and sexual risks among youth online: a review of existing knowledge regarding childrenand young people’s developing sexuality in relationto new media environments," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 64567, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Carmen Koschollek & Anna Kuehne & Johanna Müllerschön & Stephen Amoah & Helene Batemona-Abeke & Taty Dela Bursi & Pierre Mayamba & Adama Thorlie & Christina Mputu Tshibadi & Virginia Wangare Greiner &, 2020. "Knowledge, information needs and behavior regarding HIV and sexually transmitted infections among migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Germany: Results of a participatory health research survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, January.
    7. Mathematica Policy Research & Public Health Institute, "undated". "Using Health Text Messages to Improve Consumer Health Knowledge, Behaviors, and Outcomes: An Environmental Scan," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 4dbdfc0c86c641b3a89230ebf, Mathematica Policy Research.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cog:meanco:v4:y:2016:i:3:p:13-23. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: António Vieira or IT Department (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.cogitatiopress.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.