Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are testing whether social media can be used to improve cancer patient well-being and reduce loneliness.
The study, funded by a $3.25 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, will use a simulated social media platform that resembles Instagram or TikTok to study the effects of social media posts on adults aged 22 to 39 with cancer. "The calls to action are small, like paying someone a compliment, and can benefit their mental and physical health," researchers said in a Sept. 20 university news release.
Over the four-week study, participants will encounter 12 optimized messages and researchers will observe the impact on participants' social behavior.
"I study co-experienced positive emotions and the benefits you receive from them," Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, said in the release. "I've found that quality, kind-hearted emotional connections are part of staying healthy as much as eating a balanced diet or exercising."