IMAGES

The Interactive Media and Gender-Related Stressors and Strengths (IMAGES) Study investigates social media use and its relationship to risk and resilience factors for substance use and disordered eating behaviors among transgender and gender-diverse young adults, ages 18-25 years, living in the United States. Using a daily diary study and follow-up qualitative interviews, this project aims to improve our understanding of the influence of online social environments on young adult stress and coping behaviors.

The IMAGES online survey and interviews finished data collection in September 2023. The study team is currently analyzing the survey and interview data and will be working on publishing and sharing their findings in the coming years. The study is also moving into its second phase. In this phase, in collaboration with a community advisory board, the project will use results from the daily diary study and interviews to inform the development of a social media literacy intervention for transgender and gender-diverse young adults.

Study news and updates

On March 29th, 2025, Sangeeta Subedi presented “‘Train the algorithm early:’ Strategies for navigating social media and protecting mental health among transgender and nonbinary young adults” at the Society of Behavioral Medicine conference in San Francisco, CA.

Check out our Summer 2023 research update!

This work is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (K01DA054357, PI: Gordon).

This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.