Information

Related Research Units

Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Research

Research Overview

Dr. Bickham is a health communication researcher with a specific focus on children and media. His research explores media as an environmental factor that can influence children’s physical, psychological, social, and academic well-being. The content of his current work includes investigating the pathways linking media use and obesity by:

  1. Assessing the effectiveness of media literacy and media reduction campaigns
  2. Examining the impacts of digital food advertising on children
  3. Investigating characteristics of media use associated with BMI. 

He is also researching the role of media use in the development of mental health issues by considering how the context, content, and form of electronic media use may serve to distract from or exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Research Background

Dr. Bickham received his PhD in Human Ecology from the University of Texas and his undergraduate degree from Haverford College. He completed his post-doctoral training at The Center on Media and Child Health (CMCH) at Boston Children’s Hospital and is now an instructor of pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and a Research Scientist at CMCH.

 

Publications

  1. Association Between Social Media Use and Substance Use Among Middle and High School-Aged Youth. Subst Use Misuse. 2024; 59(7):1039-1046. View Abstract
  2. Exploring Use Patterns and Racial and Ethnic Differences in Real Time Affective States During Social Media Use Among a Clinical Sample of Adolescents With Depression: Prospective Cohort Study. JMIR Form Res. 2022 May 12; 6(5):e30900. View Abstract
  3. Evaluating a Middle-School Digital Citizenship Curriculum (Screenshots): Quasi-Experimental Study. JMIR Ment Health. 2021 Sep 15; 8(9):e26197. View Abstract
  4. Current Research and Viewpoints on Internet Addiction in Adolescents. Curr Pediatr Rep. 2021; 9(1):1-10. View Abstract
  5. Adapting Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Treating Problematic Interactive Media Use. J Psychiatr Pract. 2020 01; 26(1):63-70. View Abstract
  6. A primary care pediatrician's guide to assessing problematic interactive media use. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2019 08; 31(4):435-441. View Abstract
  7. Contributions of Research based on the PSID Child Development Supplement. Ann Am Acad Pol Soc Sci. 2018 Nov; 680(1):97-131. View Abstract
  8. A Preliminary Evaluation of a School-Based Media Education and Reduction Intervention. J Prim Prev. 2018 06; 39(3):229-245. View Abstract
  9. Internet Use, Depression, and Anxiety in a Healthy Adolescent Population: Prospective Cohort Study. JMIR Ment Health. 2018 05 22; 5(2):e44. View Abstract
  10. Digital Media, Anxiety, and Depression in Children. Pediatrics. 2017 Nov; 140(Suppl 2):S76-S80. View Abstract
  11. Talking with young children about concussions: an exploratory study. Child Care Health Dev. 2017 09; 43(5):758-767. View Abstract
  12. The Influence of Violent Media on Aggression in Adolescents. Adolesc Med State Art Rev. 2016 Fall; 27(2):276-290. View Abstract
  13. Adolescents' use of sexually explicit Internet material and their sexual attitudes and behavior: Parallel development and directional effects. Dev Psychol. 2015 Oct; 51(10):1476-88. View Abstract
  14. Multitasking With Television Among Adolescents. J Broadcast Electron Media. 2015; 59(1):130-148. View Abstract
  15. Media use and depression: exposure, household rules, and symptoms among young adolescents in the USA. Int J Public Health. 2015 Feb; 60(2):147-55. View Abstract
  16. Sex-related online behaviors and adolescents' body and sexual self-perceptions. Pediatrics. 2014 Dec; 134(6):1103-10. View Abstract
  17. Differences in media access and use between rural Native American and White children. Rural Remote Health. 2014; 14(3):2922. View Abstract
  18. Adolescent health literacy and the Internet: challenges and opportunities. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2014 Aug; 26(4):435-9. View Abstract
  19. Feasibility of an Online and Mobile Videogame Curriculum for Teaching Children Safe and Healthy Cellphone and Internet Behaviors. Games Health J. 2014 Aug; 3(4):252-9. View Abstract
  20. Exploring the perspectives of obese adolescent girls. Qual Health Res. 2013 Oct; 23(10):1369-76. View Abstract
  21. Characteristics of screen media use associated with higher BMI in young adolescents. Pediatrics. 2013 May; 131(5):935-41. View Abstract
  22. Is television viewing associated with social isolation? Roles of exposure time, viewing context, and violent content. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Apr; 160(4):387-92. View Abstract
  23. Time well spent? Relating television use to children's free-time activities. Pediatrics. 2006 Feb; 117(2):e181-91. View Abstract

Contact David Bickham

Phone: 617-355-6031
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