Bidirectional Influences Between Adolescent Social Media Use and Mental Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MH 23 115

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and identifier of this NIH funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Bidirectional Influences Between Adolescent Social Media Use and Mental Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and its FOA number is RFA-MH-23-115.

What is the main goal of this FOA?

The goal is to support research that clarifies how adolescent social media use and mental health influence each other over time. The emphasis is on directionality and feedback loops (for example, how symptoms may shape online behavior, and how online behavior may then worsen, maintain, or sometimes alleviate symptoms depending on context and individual differences).

Is this FOA asking whether social media is simply "good" or "bad"?

No. The central idea is not a simplistic "good vs. bad" framing. Instead, the FOA prioritizes research on patterns of engagement, context, content, and individual differences, and how these factors relate to psychiatric symptoms and mental health trajectories over time.

How does this FOA define "social media"?

Social media is defined broadly as internet-based communication platforms and applications that allow users to interact by sharing or consuming information. Examples of features include posting, commenting, direct messaging, feeds, stories, livestreams, and other interactive functions.

Who counts as an adolescent for this funding opportunity?

For this FOA, adolescents are defined as ages 10 through 20.

Why does the FOA focus on ages 10 through 20?

This age range reflects a developmental window when access to phones and online platforms expands and young people gain more independence in how, when, and why they use digital tools.

What kinds of mental health outcomes is this FOA concerned with?

The FOA focuses on psychopathology risk and resilience in relation to social media, including psychiatric symptoms and mental health trajectories. It is oriented toward understanding how symptoms and overall mental health change over time in connection with social media engagement.

What does "bidirectional influences" mean in practical research terms?

It means studies should consider reciprocal effects over time, such as whether anxiety or depression predicts certain online behaviors, and whether those behaviors then worsen, maintain, or sometimes alleviate symptoms. The FOA encourages thinking in terms of feedback loops rather than one-way causation.

What grant mechanism is being used?

This is an NIH R01 mechanism, intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects that can support multi-year, well-powered studies.

What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean here?

It means an application may include a clinical trial if appropriate to the research question, but a clinical trial is not required.

Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

Clinical trials may be included, but there is an important limitation: the FOA explicitly states that no effectiveness or efficacy trials will be accepted.

What is the limitation on trials (effectiveness/efficacy) and why does it matter?

The FOA will not accept studies designed to test whether an intervention works (efficacy) or works in real-world conditions (effectiveness). This steers applications away from validating interventions as treatments or preventive programs, and toward studies that are observational, mechanistic, developmental, or otherwise explanatory in nature.

What types of study approaches are most aligned with the FOA's intent?

Based on the description provided, the FOA is aligned with research that aims to understand relationships and mechanisms, including observational, mechanistic, developmental, and explanatory approaches. It also supports designs capable of testing reciprocal effects across development rather than simple one-direction associations.

What does the FOA suggest about measuring social media use?

Competitive projects are expected to move beyond simple screen-time totals and instead capture meaningful aspects of social media exposure and behavior, such as types of engagement, social context, content and interactions, and differences between passive consumption and active participation.

What kinds of social media engagement features might be relevant to study?

The FOA mentions a wide range of interactive functions that could be relevant, including posting, commenting, direct messaging, feeds, stories, livestreams, and other interactive features. The broader implication is to measure specific behaviors and experiences, not just time spent.

What does the FOA emphasize about mental health measurement?

It emphasizes using strong mental health measurement and study designs capable of testing reciprocal effects across development, with attention to psychiatric symptoms and overall mental health trajectories over time.

Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Examples include government entities (state, county, city, special district), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, tribal governments and tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized), public housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.

Are non-U.S. (non-domestic) organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly allows non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities to apply.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant types.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Can faith-based or community-based organizations apply?

Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are listed among the eligible applicant types.

Can federal agencies apply?

Yes. The FOA includes eligible federal agencies.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.242.

What is the NIH activity category for this opportunity?

The opportunity falls under the NIH health research activity category.

When was the FOA record created, and what was the original closing date?

The record creation date is December 29, 2022, and the original closing date listed is March 24, 2023.

Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards?

No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

What does it mean that the award ceiling and number of awards are not specified in the provided data?

It generally means you may need to consult the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance to understand typical R01 budget expectations and any institute-specific limits or recommendations, since they are not included in the source details provided here.

What would a "competitive" proposal look like based on the FOA summary provided?

Based on the description, competitive proposals would likely: (1) focus on adolescents ages 10-20; (2) test bidirectional, over-time relationships between social media use and mental health; (3) incorporate designs capable of evaluating reciprocal effects and timing across development; (4) measure social media in nuanced ways (context, content, interaction types, passive vs. active use) rather than only total screen time; and (5) avoid efficacy/effectiveness trials while emphasizing explanatory mechanisms and trajectories.