University of California-Irvine · PsychologyThe Social Impact Lab
Candice Odgers · Irvine, California
Research Focus
Dr. Candice Odgers' lab at UC Irvine focuses on understanding how social media use impacts mental health during early adolescence. By tracking a large group of young adolescents using innovative methods like ecological momentary assessment and wearable technologies, the research aims to uncover how changes in social media engagement can affect mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression. This research is critical as it seeks to inform parents, policymakers, and educators about the effects of social media on young people's well-being.
social mediamental healthadolescenceanxietydepressionecological momentary assessmentyouth empowermentdigital trace datapublic healthintervention strategies
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the relationship between social media use and mental health symptoms in adolescents.
AIM 02Test whether changes in social media engagement can alter mental health outcomes.
AIM 03Identify different groups of adolescents who may be more affected by social media restrictions or scaffolding.
AIM 04Create tools that empower adolescents to manage their digital data and contribute to mental health research.
Skills the Lab Values
ecological momentary assessment (EMA)passive sensingwearable technologiesdata collectionstatistical modelingapplication programming interface (API)longitudinal study designqualitative research methodsbehavioral assessmentscommunity engagement
Output against the department
Publications186top 37% of dept.109th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations20ktop 12% of dept.36th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.