Related papers: Cultivating a Supportive Sphere: Designing Technol…
Couples often experience a decrease in closeness as they cope with the demands of parenthood. Existing technologies have supported parenting and parental collaboration. However, these technologies do not adequately support closeness in…
We introduce an analytic pipeline to model and simulate youth trajectories through the New York state foster care system. Our goal in doing so is to forecast how proposed interventions may impact the foster care system's ability to achieve…
Unaccompanied migrant youth, fleeing to a new country without their parents, are exposed to mental health risks. Resilience interventions mitigate such risks, but access can be hindered by systemic and personal barriers. While much work has…
Social touch is essential for our social interactions, communication, and well-being. It has been shown to reduce anxiety and loneliness; and is a key channel to transmit emotions for which words are not sufficient, such as love, sympathy,…
Many children in foster care experience trauma that is rooted in unstable family relationships. Other members of the foster care system like foster parents and social workers face secondary trauma. Drawing on 10 years of Reddit data, we…
Children today encounter social issues -- climate change, conflict, inequality -- through digital technologies, and the design of that encounter shapes whether young people move toward lasting civic engagement or toward anxiety and…
Adolescents heavily rely on social media to build and maintain close relationships, yet current platform designs often make self-disclosure feel risky or uncomfortable. Through a three-part study involving 19 teens aged 13-18, we identify…
Statistics are bleak for youth aging out of the United States foster care system. They are often left with few resources, are likely to experience homelessness, and are at increased risk of incarceration and exploitation. The Think of Us…
While assistive robots have much potential to help older people with frailty-related needs, there are few in use. There is a gap between what is developed in laboratories and what would be viable in real-world contexts. Through a series of…
Perceived discrimination is common and consequential. Yet, little support is available to ease handling of these experiences. Addressing this gap, we report on a need-finding study to guide us in identifying relevant technologies and their…
The quality of social interaction is crucial for psychological and physiological health. Previous research shows that smartphones can negatively impact face-to-face social interactions. Many HCI studies have addressed this by limiting…
People with disabilities often face discrimination and lack of access in all areas of society. While improving the affordability and appropriateness of assistive technologies can pave the way for easier participation and independence,…
Prior research on young adults' mental health help-seeking mostly focuses on one particular resource such as a mobile app or digital platform, paying less attention to their lived experiences interacting with the ecosystem of resources. We…
Regular practice of gratitude has the potential to enhance psychological wellbeing and foster stronger social connections among young adults. However, there is a lack of research investigating user needs and expectations regarding…
Parenting brings emotional and physical challenges, from balancing work, childcare, and finances to coping with exhaustion and limited personal time. Yet, one in three parents never seek support. AI systems potentially offer stigma-free,…
Mobile apps used by children often make use of harmful techniques, such as data tracking and targeted advertising. Previous research has suggested that developers face several systemic challenges in designing apps that prioritise children's…
We report a user study of over four months on the non-voice usage of mobile phones by teens from an underserved urban community in the USA where a community-wide, open-access Wi-Fi network exists. We instrumented the phones to record…
Moving to a new culture and adapting to a new life, as an international student, can be a stressful experience. In the US, international students face unique overlapping challenges, yet the current support ecosystem, including university…
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly deployed across social media platforms, yet their implications for user behavior and experience remain understudied, particularly regarding two critical dimensions: (1) how AI…
Challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals in the United States raise questions about our society's ability to truly provide second chances. This paper presents the outcomes of our ongoing collaboration with a non-profit…