PEARL LAB: TikTok/ADHD Relationship Over Time Study

PEARL LAB: TikTok/ADHD Relationship Over Time Study

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PEARL wants to better understand students’ perceptions of social media, ADHD, and the healthcare system.

The Promoting Equitable, Affirming Relationships Lab (PEARL) is recruiting UBC students for their research study TikTok/ADHD Relationship Over Time.

About the study

This study explores how ADHD-related social media content consumption influences young adults’ perceptions of ADHD, treatment intentions, and trust in mental health professionals.Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions for one week: (1) social media abstinence, (2) ADHD psychoeducation, (3) ADHD-related video-watching, or (4) a control group.

Purpose of the study

Objectives: We will evaluate the approaches of (1) abstaining from social media versus (2) receiving ADHD psychoeducation and information from researchers versus (3) watching popular TikToks about ADHD versus (4) control on the outcome variable of young adults’ perceptions of ADHD, treatment intention, and trust in mental health professionals.

Hypotheses: We predict that symptom severity, distress, and catastrophizing will decrease in both the psychoeducation and abstinence groups. Additionally, the psychoeducation group will show greater ADHD knowledge and more positive attitudes towards the healthcare system. Finally, the video-watching group will view ADHD-TikTok videos more favourably. We do not expect a significant difference in ADHD content consumption between the psychoeducation and video-watching groups.

Eligibility

This study is for students who suspect they may have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or who have an ADHD diagnosis, and who use social media regularly.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Can read and write in English
  • Ages between 17 and 25
  • Reports that they have a formal diagnosis of ADHD or a self-diagnosis of ADHD
  •  Is a UBC student

If you’re interested, please complete a brief eligibility screening:

What’s involved

The study has two parts, both completed online. In Part A (which takes about one hour), you’ll complete questionnaires about your social media use, ADHD symptoms, and beliefs about mental health services. You’ll then be randomly assigned to one of four conditions for one week. Depending on the condition, you may receive short daily videos about ADHD, be sent popular ADHD-related TikToks, be asked to abstain from social media, or be asked to continue your usual habits. One week later, you’ll complete Part B (which also takes about one hour and takes place online), which is a follow-up questionnaire.

Compensation

You can receive $5 for Part A and $10 for Part B, for a total of up to $15.

Contact

Principal Investigator: Amori Yee Mikami, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychology
Contact

Co-investigator: Vasileia Karasavva, MA
PhD Student, Department of Psychology
Contact

The study has been approved by BREB (H25-00301).

Quantitative Methods Workshop Series (QMWS)

Interested in strengthening your data analysis and research skills?

The Department of Psychology and the Statistical Consulting Service at York University are offering a series of affordable, online workshops on statistical software, research methods, and data analysis. Topics range from introductory sessions on Jamovi and R/RStudio to more advanced training in regression, topic modelling, and using AI in research.

Workshops cost approximately $5/hour and are eligible for a digital credential/badge, making them a great option for students looking to build practical and recognized quantitative skills.

Upcoming topics include:

  • Introduction to Jamovi

  • Basics of R and RStudio

  • Regression in R

  • Topic Modelling (LDA)

  • Using AI for Data Analysis

Open to students interested in research and data methods.

Learn more and register through the link below!

Personality, Emotion, and Behaviour Lab: Internet Use and Mental Health Study

Earn HSP credit in a new study on internet use and mental health.

The Personality, Emotion, and Behaviour Lab (PEBL) is recruiting participants for their Internet Use and Mental Health Study, now live on the Human Subject Pool (HSP) Portal.

About the study: The purpose of this study is to explore how different ways students are using the internet and interact with online platforms (e.g. social media, AI chatbots, streaming, etc) may uniquely relate to their mental health.

What’s involved: This study includes a survey that takes up to 1 hour, for which you will receive 1 HSP credit. The survey covers a broad range of mental health experiences. All students are eligible for this phase of the study, and you can do it in your own time from home. Please note that this study addresses sensitive topics like suicidal ideation and emotional distress.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Undergraduate student at UBC
  • Eligible for HSP credit
  • Fluent in English
  • Willing to be contacted for a follow-up online interview

Location of study: Online

Compensation: 1 HSP credit for survey, additional 1.5 HSP credits for online interview (if eligible)

How to participate: Eligible participant should login to the UBC Psychology Research Participation System and look for the title ‘Internet Use and Mental Health Study’ on the HSP Sona page.

Researchers involved: Cindy Yu, Jill Dosso, E. David Klonsky

Contact: Cindy Yu

GLOCAL Foundation of Canada: Project Management Trainee

Looking to build practical skills while contributing to meaningful civic initiatives?

The Glocal Foundation is offering a paid, remote Project Management Trainee Internship for students interested in public-interest work. You’ll gain hands-on experience in planning projects, coordinating tasks, working with volunteers, and collaborating with a team—while developing transferable skills in communication, organization, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Open to students legally authorized to work in Canada.

Learn more and apply through the link below!

University of Ottawa Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology

The Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology (ICP) is an annual peer-reviewed academic conference held at the University of Ottawa.

The 2026 conference theme is “Psychology and Technology: Psychology in an Evolving Digital World,” which will take place on May 6-8th, 2026.

ICP request a 250-word abstract summarizing the research project and its relevance to the conference theme. Anticipated findings for ongoing research may be included as long as the final results will be presentable by the time of the conference. The conference presents a unique yet affordable opportunity to present your work at a peer-reviewed conference to a broad audience of students, professors, and members of the public working in diverse settings.

Eligibility: ICP accepts submissions for oral and poster presentations from both graduate and undergraduate students within and outside the discipline of psychology.

Abstract submission: January 1st to February 27th.

Abstract submission date has been extended until March 8th!

Further information about the fellowships and application process is available through the link below!

Pre-Doctoral Fellowships

The Social Neuroscience Research Core at Marcus Autism Center, in conjunction with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, is offering three two-year predoctoral research fellowships in six scientific subspecialties.

Fellows will participate in innovative research to provide novel solutions to complex problems in a robust clinical environment.

ACCESS Fellowship in Implementation Science

The ACCESS Fellowship in Implementation Science will select fellows for a two-year training in research focused on community engagement participatory methods, translating evidence-based services for autism into community settings, as well as the processes and partnerships that support these efforts.

Donald J. Cohen Fellowship in Developmental Social Neuroscience

The Cohen Fellowship in Developmental Social Neuroscience will involve cutting-edge social neuroscience and/or neuroimaging research in infants, toddlers and adolescents. Fellows will work to further the understanding of autism through eye-tracking research, guiding a project from the point of data collection to publication of results.

Simons Fellowship in Computational Neuroscience

The Simons Fellowship in Computational Neuroscience will involve integrating computational strategies with clinical research goals. Fellows will develop methods for the analysis of visual scanning and eye-tracking data, computational models of visual salience, and data visualization techniques, all with the aim of advancing the understanding of autism and efforts at early diagnosis.

Eligibility: Students who will receive a bachelor’s degree by June 2026 will be eligible for the positions. The fellowships will commence in July 2026, and they are 2 years in duration.

Deadline to apply: Monday, January 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

Further information about the fellowships and application process is available through the link below!

Call for Abstracts: Crossroads 2026 Conference

The Crossroads Conference, now in its 22nd year, provides a platform for undergraduate students and first-time presenters to showcase their research and engage with peers and professionals in a supportive environment.

The 2026 conference will be held on March 13–14, 2026, at Dalhousie University’s Student Union Building in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Students and early-career researchers interested in presenting their work are invited to submit abstracts by January 9th, 2026.

Past presentations have spanned a range of disciplines, including:

  • Public and population health

  • Neuroscience and cognitive psychology

  • Health policy and systems research

  • Community-based and clinical practice innovations

  • Biomedical and life sciences

Submission guidelines and the abstract portal are available through the link below!

MITACS RISE Globalink Research Internship

The Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) Germany Program, managed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), offers undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in Germany during the summer.

The internship lasts three months, with flexible start dates between May 15 and July 15, 2026. Participants are matched with research projects at German universities and research institutions.

Selected students receive:

  • A monthly stipend of €992 (~1600 CAD)

  • Health, accident, and liability insurance coverage in Germany

  • A travel subsidy to cover round-trip airfare

A variety of research placements are available, including projects of particular interest to psychology students, such as:

  • Automatic Detection of Autism Markers in Spoken Language

  • Developing and Evaluating Multi-Modal AI Models for Clinical Decision Support in Depression

  • Investigating Prediction Error Effects on Memory

  • App-Based CBT Intervention for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

  • Research on Tangible Interfaces for Generative AI

  • Shaping Trustworthy AI: Human-Centered Research in Explainable Artificial Intelligence

  • Diversity and Representation in Requirements Engineering with LLMs

Applications are open now until November 30, 2025.

The Pathy Foundation: Fellowship

The Pathy Foundation Fellowship offers a transformative opportunity for graduating students to design and lead a community-based initiative, anywhere in the world, over 12 months. Each year, up to 12 Fellows receive: $50,000 in funding, comprehensive training and support, the chance to lead a self-directed initiative in a community they care about.

Open to students who hold Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residence, are under the age of 30, and are in their final year of a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or post-grad diploma/certificate program at University of British Columbia.

Applications are open until November 15.

UBC Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Targeted Hope and Support (UBC PATHS) Club: Mentees

UBC PATHS is a network of students dedicated to raising awareness and funds for common neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They are currently seeking mentees for their Mentorship Program, which aims to connect younger undergraduate students with more experienced senior undergraduate or graduate students. This program is a great way for younger undergraduate students to gain guidance on academics, career goals, getting involved in research, and building connections with other students.

Apply by October 20, 2025