Using Mobile Technologies to Advance the Study of Psychopathology among Children and Adolescents

This chapter reviews the ways in which new technologies can be used by researchers to understand the etiology, daily triggers, contexts, and developmental course of psychopathology. It provides specific examples of the application of mobile technologies to the study of conduct problems in adolescence and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in childhood, alongside a discussion of how mobile devices can enhance existing methodologies, such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Finally, the chapter introduces possible applications of mobile technologies in the study and treatment of psychopathology among young people, alongside a discussion of emerging fears regarding whether the (over)use of mobile technologies may be influencing children’s mental health. The introduction and rapid evolution of mobile technologies is transforming research opportunities, with new features that track location, monitor health and changes in affect, and provide quantitative and qualitative information about children’s everyday lives.