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FR
THEME 01 · Public policies
We do multi-methods research grounded in young people's own accounts to evaluate the mental health impacts of policies targeting their access to technologies, such as phone bans in schools.
How can policies promote safer digital environments for youth while preserving the positive experiences that youth may have online?
Focus groups · surveys · policy analysis · literature reviews
Related publication
Tiraboschi, G. A., Grimes, S. M., Halsall, T., Hews-Girard, J., Ferrari, M., Shah, J., Dubé, A., Baudet, A., Tresham, A. T., Légaré, A.A., Loiseau, A., Nandi, A., Rousseau, C., Barbeau-Meunier, C.A., Howard, C., Miconi, D., Brais-Dussault, E., Abi-Jaoude, E., Pouliot, E., … & Paquin, V. (2026). Policy brief on Bill C-34: Regulating digital platform design to protect children and adolescents: Recommendations from a national multidisciplinary coalition of 34 authors [Policy brief submitted to the House of Commons of Canada].
THEME 02 · Intervention
We developed the Digital Culture Interview, the first clinical tool co-designed with young people to support the exploration of digital experiences and practices in the context of mental health care. You can download the interview guide here.
What is the impact of discussing a young person's digital practices in mental health care? How can the Digital Culture Interview help patients and clinicians have open conversations about digital culture?
Trials · interviews · co-design with youth
Related publication
Paquin, V., Jiang, R., Shah, J. L., Jarvis, G. E., Nickrenz, E., Ferrari, M., & Park, M. (2026). Knowing How to Ask About Digital Culture in Youth Mental Health Care: A Co‐Designed Tool. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 20(7), e70203.
THEME 03 · Online spaces
We seek to understand the evolving and diverse online communities and subcultures that people engage in.
How do online communities influence the identities, relationships, and sources of stress and resilience of young people? What kinds of supports and resources can be developed in light of their needs?
Interdisciplinary research · surveys · ethnography
Related publication
Paquin, V., Plante, C.N., Nickrenz, E. (2026). Cultural psychiatry across (cyber)spaces: Understanding the role of fan cultures in mental health. Transcultural Psychiatry, online ahead of print.
THEME 04 · AI chatbots
We are interested in understanding how people relate to AI chatbots, how they envision the role of social AI and robots in their lives, and what can be done to ensure safer interactions with AI.
What are potential risks and benefits of using AI chatbots for socio-emotional needs? What policies are needed to protect users against chatbot-related harms? How do people from populations underrepresented in this field of research envision the future of AI and social robotics in their lives?
Ethnography · co-design · natural language processing
Related publication
Al-Asmar, A., Henich, E., & Paquin, V. (2026). Turning to AI Chatbots to Cope with Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Online Perceptions and Experiences. Preprint, available at SSRN.
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