MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS’ PERSPECTIVES OF ADOLESCENTS RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Author

• Hannah Georgia Hall

Year of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

School Psychology

Department or School/College

Phyllis J. Washington College of Education

Committee Chair

Jacqueline Brown

Commitee Members

Stephanie Ashcraft, Greg Machek, Caitlin Martin-Wagar, Christina Granato Yoshimura

Keywords

Adolescents, Mental Health, Risk Taking, Social Media

Abstract

Social media has become a normative part of adolescents' daily lives, yet there remains a need to better understand how it influences adolescent development, mental health, and risk-taking behaviors. The present study used a qualitative approach employing Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019) to explore licensed mental health providers' (N = 13) clinical perspectives on adolescents' social media use and related risk-taking behaviors.  The study examined providers' clinical perspectives on adolescents' social media use and related behaviors, how they navigate and address these behaviors with adolescents, and their recommendations for promoting safe social media practices.  Thirteen licensed mental health providers (i.e., social workers, licensed counselors, psychologists, school counselors, and school psychologists) participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest that providers viewed adolescents' online risk-taking as developmentally normative but increasingly complicated by the features of social media. Providers emphasized the importance of open communication, understanding the function of adolescents' online behaviors, and making boundaries explicit when safety concerns arise. Recommendations highlighted a collaborative approach involving adolescents, families, schools, and mental health providers, while encouraging the use of technology as part of the solution rather than viewing it solely as the problem. Overall, the findings suggest that supporting adolescents' online safety requires developmentally informed, collaborative approaches that recognize both the opportunities and risks associated with social media.

Recommended Citation

Hall, Hannah Georgia, "MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS’ PERSPECTIVES OF ADOLESCENTS RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA" (2026). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12765.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12765