Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Evaluate a Moderated Mediation Model of Social Media Use and Disordered-Eating Behaviors in Young Women

As a clinical and translational research scientist, I seek to understand how the ways that young adults use social support can positively or negatively influence their well-being. People with eating disorders (EDs) report significant difficulties forming and maintaining relationships and often struggle to use their support networks in a health-promoting context. My research aims to illuminate how the different methods of social support that people utilize serve as risk, protective, or maintenance factors for disordered-eating. My long-term goal is to pursue a career in research and teaching as a tenure-track faculty member. I believe that conducting clinical and translational research in an academic environment is critical for the education of our next generation of scientists and clinicians.

With the support of the TL1 fellowship, I will have the opportunity to access research and career development experiences that will make me competitive for a faculty position and external funding. With these goals in mind, my mentorship team and I have designed a training plan for the TL1 that will facilitate my successful transition from postdoctoral study to an independent, federally funded, clinical-research career. At the end of the TL1 fellowship, I will submit a career development grant building upon my findings. Although I received strong training in conducting clinical research during graduate school, I still require additional training, as described in my submitted proposal.