Digital tools to support adolescent mental health, and the role of physical activity

Thank you to the Valsef Rêvons Grand Foundation (Valsef Dream Big Foundation), a Committed Donor, for supporting this research project.

THE CONTEXT

Screens now play an important role in the daily lives of teenagers in Quebec. Smartphones, social media, and digital platforms influence their relationships, activities, and access to information. Although excessive use is associated with negative effects, such as sleep disturbances, reduced physical activity, and mental health issues, the reality is more nuanced. Digital environments also offer interesting possibilities, including quick access to information, spaces for self-expression, a sense of belonging, and, increasingly, artificial intelligence tools. For many young people, these resources are accessible, available at all times, and sometimes perceived as less stigmatizing than traditional forms of support.

At the same time, the mental health of adolescents in Quebec has been deteriorating for several years. The need for support is growing faster than the capacity of services to meet that need, both in schools and within community and health care networks. In this context, digital technologies could help support young people’s mental health. However, little is yet known about how adolescents use them for this purpose, the role they play among various forms of support, and which young people are most likely to use them.

THE PROJECT

The project aims to answer the following question: Do young people in Quebec consider using electronic methods and media to address their mental health needs, and how do these tools fit into their support ecosystem? 

This research therefore aims to better understand how Quebec adolescents perceive digital resources as a means of addressing their mental health needs. It will focus in particular on their use of online information sources—including artificial intelligence tools—and on the role these resources play among other forms of support, such as family, friends, school staff, and health care professionals.

Researchers will also examine whether certain groups of young people are more likely to use these tools, particularly based on their mental health status, screen-use habits, level of physical activity, or certain characteristics such as gender, living environment, and family financial constraints.

A second phase of the project will focus specifically on analyzing subgroups according to the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, incorporating both the duration and types of screen use, as well as the duration and type of physical activity. Particular attention will be paid to specific sports profiles, including participation in a sports team and physical activities integrated into the school curriculum. The project will examine whether physically active youth, particularly those involved in organized sports environments, show different patterns of use of digital mental health resources, given that these environments may already provide spaces for social support and a sense of accomplishment.

The goal is not to promote or discourage the use of digital resources, but to better understand their role in order to guide the development of support strategies tailored to the needs of young people.

COMPASS-Québec: A Unique Research Platform

To answer these questions, the project will draw on COMPASS-Québec, the Quebec component of a large Canada-wide school-based cohort study that has been active since 2012. Led by Drs. Richard Bélanger, Anne-Marie Turcotte-Tremblay, and Slim Haddad, this platform is currently the largest research infrastructure on adolescent health in Quebec.

For more than 10 years, COMPASS-Québec has been collecting data annually from nearly 200 high schools and more than 110,000 young people. The information collected focuses on mental health, screen time, sleep, physical activity, substance use, and school environments. New questions now allow for an exploration of the use of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to support young people’s mental health.

Although this platform offers a unique opportunity to address these research questions, there is currently no specific funding available to conduct these analyses. The Foundation’s support will make it possible to harness this potential and quickly generate knowledge that can guide interventions targeting young people.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

This study will provide a better understanding of the resources adolescents turn to when they are experiencing mental health concerns, whether these are people in their social circles, professionals, or digital resources such as virtual assistants, social media, or support apps. It will also help identify the profiles of young people who use these different forms of support more or less frequently, in order to better understand their needs and the environments that already promote their well-being.

The study will also contribute to a better understanding of the role of physical activity and the environments in which it takes place. Analyzing profiles based on the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, organized physical activity, and activities integrated into the school curriculum may help determine whether certain sports environments already serve as spaces for social support and a sense of accomplishment, and whether this is associated with the use of different sources of mental health support.

The findings will guide the development of strategies and resources better suited to the realities of today’s youth. They will also serve as a starting point for future research projects conducted in collaboration with other Quebec-based teams specializing in adolescent health.