[FG] Unternährer Eva

Our research focuses on how the childhood environment shapes development and affects psychiatric outcomes and psychobiological markers later in life. One aspect of the early-life environment that has become our main interest over the past few years is the use of digital media in families and its impact on child and adolescent development and mental health. Currently, we are conducting several research projects that focus on parental smartphone use and child socio-emotional development; on how young children use digital media and how it predicts motor-, language, cognitive, and socio-emotional development; and on the links between social media use and internalizing/depressive disorders in adolescents and emerging adults.

Our research applies a wide range of methods, including psychosocial and clinical assessments and surveys, behavioral observations and ratings, psychophysiological experiments, hormonal assays, measurement of heart rate (variability), (epi-)genetic assessments, or innovative measurement techniques for real-time emotion analysis. In addition to our research, we are also working with different Start-ups and Associations that support family mental well-being by providing guidance in the digital space for children, adolescents, and their parents.