Lead researcher : Eve Pouliot

Co-researchers : Christine Gervais, Kristel Tardif-Grenier, Jacinthe Dion and Marie-Ève Blackburn

Abstract. This partnership research project aims to better understand intensive screen use among adolescents living in a disadvantaged rural setting — specifically the community of Pontiac (Outaouais, Quebec), which has been marked by repeated natural disasters and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on concerning findings that show high levels of screen use and its negative impacts (sleep, mental health, academic achievement, and so on), the study pursues four objectives: to document young people’s digital habits, to analyze their perceived effects, to identify the needs of those who use screens intensively, and to co-construct adapted solutions with students, parents and school staff. Through a three-phase mixed-methods design (questionnaire, focus groups and participatory workshops), the project places young people’s voices at its centre in order to better grasp their realities and develop concrete interventions. The results will help guide school practices and generate tools transferable to other vulnerable settings facing similar circumstances.