Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41954884›Full record

ArticleCanadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique2026

Screens and Teens: A youth participatory action research approach to developing a survey to assess sexual health risks in the digital age.

Ashley Vandermorris, Naba Khan, Soliana Lijiam, Michelle Tam, William B Mazin, Stephanie Begun, Jannah Wigle, Dana Arafeh, Julie Skelding, Sarah Carsley and 4 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Ashley VandermorrisDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. ashley.vandermorris@sickkids.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6976-8590
Naba KhanDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3716-6755
Soliana LijiamYouth Researcher, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0179-7595
Michelle TamDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6556-2309
William B MazinYouth Researcher, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-1668-4597
Stephanie BegunFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3746-3127
Jannah WigleDepartment of Health and Society, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9826-0625
Dana ArafehDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Julie SkeldingParent Partner, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Sarah CarsleyDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6291-1537
Charles Keown-StonemanDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8790-1589
Jonathon L MaguireDepartment of Paediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4083-8612
Catherine S BirkenDepartment of Paediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0308-8645
Alene ToulanyDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1238-7049

Funding

Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health HY2-186689
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdolescence is a time of self-discovery and development, particularly in the domains of relationships and sexuality. The use of screens during adolescence can provide outlets to access sexual health knowledge and peer support but may also expose youth to sexual health risks. To meaningfully assess factors influencing youth sexual health, engaging youth in the development of research survey tools is critical.

objectiveApplying a youth participatory action research approach, this paper describes the process of co-designing a survey that integrates the present-day experiences of youth to evaluate the potential impacts of screen use on subsequent sexual health attitudes, behaviours, and risks.

methodsTwo youth co-principal investigators were engaged from the onset of the study and contributed to the recruitment of six additional youth researchers. A training curriculum was co-designed; the multi-day sessions equipped the youth researchers to develop the survey. Existing validated surveys and literature were screened for potential survey questions, and smaller working groups deliberated to reach consensus on included questions and modifications.

resultsThe youth researchers created a survey that consisted of nine sections: gender and sexual orientation, media and communication, sources of sexual health information and attitudes, relationships and dating, sexual activity, sexual knowledge and attitudes, dating apps, cybersex, and pornography. The team developed new questions on social media platforms, self-image, and sexual activity consent.

conclusionEmbedding youth in sexual health research beyond the role of advisors, but rather as co-creators, facilitates the generation of research tools that are relevant and culturally informed for adolescents.

Indexed as

Adolescent healthScreen useSexual and reproductive healthSexually transmitted diseasesSocial mediaYouth engagementYouth participatory action research

Identifiers

PMID41954884

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.