Sophia Choukas-Bradley, Ph. D.

Award-winning researcher on social media use, gender and sexuality, body image and mental health

About Me

» Understanding how social media poisoned young women's mental health, why it matters for all of us, and where we go from here.

I'm Dr. Sophia Choukas-Bradley (Sophie), a licensed clinical psychologist, a tenured associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and a researcher, writer, speaker, educator, and mentor. As one of the world’s leading experts on how social media shapes young women’s body image and mental health, I direct the Teen and Young Adult Lab and serve as chair of Pitt’s Developmental Psychology Program.

My work is driven by a central question: What is social media doing to the psychology of adolescent girls?

As a public-facing scholar, I write and speak about my research for both academic and general audiences.

ABout me

Writing

Speaking

Media

01:54

How to connect with your children about healthy social media use

A clip from "How to Pull Kids Back from Social Media Rabbit Holes," a live webinar from November 2023, to help parents and caregivers learn strategies that counter the negative effects of social media use — and teach them to their kids. Watch full clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lNx6IpOVl4

02:14

Understanding Adolescent Development

A clip from the panel "Sexts, Lies, & Videostream: Adolescent Sexuality Online" at the Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress in September 2023. Watch the full panel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzkfjm4qdoE

How image editing worsens negative influences on girls’ body image

Discussing the limits of awareness and possible additional approaches for effective behavioral change around social media’s impacts on girls’ body image at the #AskTheExperts webinar “Mirror, Mirror, in My Palm: Girls and Media” in September 2022. Watch the full webinar at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbWLTmpPMTc

01:37

Dietrich School Flash Class: Adolescence in 90 Seconds"

Psychology Professor Sophia Choukas-Bradley, presents, "Adolescence in 90 Seconds," a Dietrich School "Flash Class."

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Research Lab

The Teen and Young Adult (TAYA) Lab is a psychology research lab at the University of Pittsburgh. We study sociocultural influences on the mental health and development of young people aged 11-29. Learn more about our research team, current projects, and resources for prospective students.

About the Lab