MyVoice: Real Voices, Real Impact:
A message from MyVoice Director
Dr. Tammy Chang
Greetings, friends!
Reflecting on this past year, our team is more convinced than ever that understanding the lived experiences and perspectives of young people is essential to the well-being of our community. The MyVoice nationwide poll elevates the voices of youth ages 14-24, inviting them to share their thoughts about the issues shaping their lives, their health and their respective futures.
This work is possible because of extraordinary collaborations. Poll participants help us see the world through their eyes, while our research team – many of whom are high school and college students — gathers, analyzes, interprets and shares what young people across the country tell us. Together, these contributions create insights that can strengthen policies and practices affecting American communities.
We’ve had an extremely productive year, generating meaningful research in areas including oral nicotine pouches, zero-proof alcohol, illegal drugs, distracted and hands-free driving, food insecurity screening, fresh-produce prescriptions, gender-affirming care, HIV testing, HPV vaccination, and social media.
This year, our team presented many of these topics at an international primary care and family medicine conference, which reached many fellow researchers and public members.
I am amazed at the work and impact we made this year, thanks in large part to those youth who participate in the polls and those who help us conduct our studies.
I am also grateful to every member of our research team and to youth in this country who trust us with their opinions and concerns. In this annual report, we share critical findings from the questions we posed throughout the year. We hope these insights encourage thoughtful dialogue and help shape informed, responsive approaches to the well-being of today’s youth.
MyVoice Director Tammy Chang, MD, MPH, MS
What Our Collaborators Are Saying
Akshaya Santhanaraj, MD
Akshaya is a first-year medical resident with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan. She has been involved in gathering and analyzing data on youth perspectives on sexual abuse. Watch her video as she discusses what she’s learned so far in the MyVoice data research process.
Perla Soto
Perla is a sophomore at the University of Michigan and has worked with the MyVoice team on studies that have to do with youth and stoicism. Perla found her way to MyVoice through the Michigan Research and Discovery Scholars (MRADS) program. Watch her video as she talks about what her first year with MyVoice was like and what she hopes to accomplish in the new academic year.
Ailish Dougherty, MD
Publication & Program Highlights
MyVoice Presents Research on a National Stage!
Our team members took part in many oral and poster presentations at NAPCRG in November 2025.
MyVoice Co-Founder Calls for Weight Loss Pill Ban
Kendrin Sonneville, ScD, RD, calls for the prohibition of certain dietary supplement and diet pill sales to minors.
MyVoice Provides Data to Create Social Media Mini Course
MyVoice teams with U-M experts to create a social media awareness mini course to promote safe online interactions.
Youth Weigh in on the Popular Oral Nicotine Pouches
Michigan Medicine Health Lab Blog helps disseminate findings.
Publications
United States Youth Perspectives on Zyn Oral Nicotine Pouches
Article cited: Dougherty, A., Frank, A., Hunter, A., Gupta, M., Waselewski, M., & Chang, T (2026). “United States youth perspectives on Zyn oral nicotine pouches,” Journal of Adolescent Health. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2026.04.003
United States Youth Opinions About Food Insecurity Screening and Fresh Produce Prescriptions
Hill N, Meyerson A, Atoui, A, Waselewski, M, Chang T. United States Youth Opinions About Food Insecurity and Fresh Produce Prescriptions. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2025 October 8.
Youth perspectives on distracted driving and hands-free laws
Downer, C, St. Louis, R, Amaro X, Zakrajsek, J, Agarwal, R, Waselewski, M, Chang, T. Youth perspectives on distracted driving and hands-free laws. BMC Public Health. 2026 Jun 2.
Addressing Weight-Related Bullying in Schools: Youth Perspectives on School Policies and Interventions
Kale R, Harrop EN, Kelly JR, Sullivan SA, Sonneville KR. Addressing Weight-Related Bullying in Schools: Youth Perspectives on School Policies and Interventions. Journal of School Health. 2025 Dec;95(12):1007-1016. doi: 10.1111/josh.70054. Epub 2025 Aug 29. PMID: 40879349
Youth Awareness and Perspectives on Fentanyl
Sindelar J, Amalraj T, Davis S, Soos A, Frank CJ, Chang T. Youth Awareness and Perspectives on Fentanyl. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2026 Mar 18.
Team-Based Analysis of Large-Scale Qualitative Data: Tutorial Using a Nationwide SMS Text Messaging Poll of Youth
DeJonckheere M, Chuisano SA, Waselewski M, Sonneville K, Chang T. Team-Based Analysis of Large-Scale Qualitative Data: Tutorial Using a Nationwide SMS Text Messaging Poll of Youth. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2026 Feb 27;28:e72526.
Youth perspectives of school-based health education: Findings from a US youth-led nationwide qualitative survey
Durden A, Lucien J, Chuisano SA, Palazzolo B, Ahmed Z, Ceaser N, Jayakumar ST, Patel P, Barraza B, Ajrouche A, Arroyo J. Youth perspectives of school-based health education: Findings from a US youth-led nationwide qualitative survey. Health Education Journal. 2026 Feb;85(1):15-28
Oral & Poster Presentations
Youth Perspectives: Weight Loss Content on Social Media
Breitung A, Waselewski M, Chang T, Sonneville K. Youth Perspectives: Weight Loss Content on Social Media. Poster presentation at: Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Symposium; 2026 July 29; Ann Arbor, MI.
US Youth Perspectives on HIV Testing
Mellott C, Hua H, Hunter A, Geter K, Waselewski M, Chang T. US Youth Perspectives on HIV Testing. Poster presentation at: 2025 NAPCRG Annual Meeting; 2025 Nov 22; Atlanta, GA.
US youth perspective on the use of Zyn oral nicotine pouche
Dougherty A, Gupta M, Waselewski M, Frank A, Hunter A, Chang T. US youth perspective on the use of Zyn oral nicotine pouches. Poster presentation at: 2025 NAPCRG Annual Meeting; 2025 Nov 22; Atlanta, GA.
Eco-Related Eating Guilt Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A National Qualitative Study.
Sonneville, K, Colantonio, K, Rodgers, RF. Eco-Related Eating Guilt Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A National Qualitative Study. Poster Presentation, 31st Annual EDRS Meeting in Newport Beach, California. September 19, 2025.
Caffeine is How I Make it Through: Psychosocial Influences on Youth Sleep and Energy Drink Consumption
Chowdhury N, Lucien J, Chusiano S, DeJonckheere M. Caffeine is How I Make it Through: Psychosocial Influences on Youth Sleep and Energy Drink Consumption. Oral presentation at: Michigan Family Medicine Research Day
“Resurgence of Eating Disorder Culture [on Social Media]”: Findings from a Nationwide Text Message Poll
Chowdhury N, DeJonckheere M, Chuisano S, Arroyo J, Durden A, Olliverre M. Adolescents Feel a “Resurgence of Eating Disorder Culter [on Social Media]”: Findings from a Nationwide Text Message Poll. Oral presentation at: Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions; 2026 Apr 24; Chicago, IL.
Adolescent Perspectives on Family Planning
Chen E, Frost C, Waselewski M, Chang T. Adolescent Perspectives on Family Planning. Oral Presentation at: Undergraduate Research Academy Symposium; 2026 July 23; Ann Arbor, MI.
Nationwide Poll of Youth on the Impact of Standardized Testing on Health
Downer C, Amalraj T, Arasteh P, Ravikumar E, Mellott C, Hua H, Geter K, Waselewski M, Chang T. Nationwide Poll of Youth on the Impact of Standardized Testing on Health. Poster Presentation at: Academy Health Annual Research Meeting; 2026 May 31; Seattle, WA.
Assessment of U.S. Youth Perceptions on Zero Proof Alcohol
Frost C, Tisch A, Waselewski M, Chang T. Assessment of U.S. Youth Perceptions on Zero Proof Alcohol. Poster presentation at: 2025 NAPCRG Annual Meeting; 2025 Nov 22; Atlanta, GA.
Youth Perspectives on Weight-Related Bullying and School-Based Policy Interventions.
Sonneville, KR, Harrop, EN, Sullivan, SA, Kale, R, Kelly, JR, Colantonio, K, Downer, C, Klar, R, Ko, S, Welby, G. Youth Perspectives on Weight-Related Bullying and School-Based Policy Interventions. Poster Presentation, 31st Annual EDRS Meeting in Newport Beach, California. September 19, 2025.
Leveraging a Social Ecological Lens to Explore Youth Experiences and Perspectives with Social Media, Mental Health, and Wellbeing: Results from a Nationwide Text Message Survey
Chuisano S, Giambra B, Arroyo J, Amaro X, Chowdhury N, Lucien J, DeJonckheere M. Leveraging a Social Ecological Lens to Explore Youth Experiences and Perspectives with Social Media, Mental Health, and Wellbeing: Results from a Nationwide Text Message Survey. Poster presentation at: Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions; 2026 Apr 23; Chicago, IL.
Youth Perspectives on Rising Food Costs and Their Impact on Food Choices and Daily Life
Russell A, Hua H, Waselewski M, Chang T. Youth Perspectives on Rising Food Costs and Their Impact on Food Choices and Daily Life. Oral Presentation at: Undergraduate Research Academy Symposium; 2026 July 24; Ann Arbor, MI.
Food Systems, Scarcity, and Stigma: A Systems-Level View of Eating Disorders
Sonneville K. Food Systems, Scarcity, and Stigma: A Systems-Level View of Eating Disorders. Invited Plenary Speaker, From Individuals to Ecosystems: Eating Disorders in the Context of a Shared Planet, International Conference on Eating Disorders, The Hague, Netherlands; June 4, 2026.
Youth Perspectives on Gender-Affirming Care Policies in the United States: A National Qualitative Study Among 592 Adolescents and Young Adults
Downer C, Haley C, Frank A, Dougherty A, Tisch A, Waselewski M, Chang T. Youth Perspectives on Gender-Affirming Care Policies in the United States: A National Qualitative Study Among 592 Adolescents and Young Adults. Poster Presentation at: Academy Health Annual Research Meeting; 2026 Jun 1; Seattle, WA.
US youths’ knowledge and perceptions of HPV vaccination
Gupta M, Schaaff C, Bains M, Waselewski M, Tammy C. US youths’ knowledge and perceptions of HPV vaccination. Poster presentation at: 2025 NAPCRG Annual Meeting; 2025 Nov 22; Atlanta, GA.
MYHealth Impact Projects Final Presentation 2026
MYHealth Impact Projects Teams 2025-2026, MYHealth Peer Leaders Teams 2025-2026, Chang T, Chowdhury N, Chusiano S, Lucien J, Stryker S, Vaughn L, DeJonckheere M. MyHealth Impact Projects Final Presentation. Oral presentation; 2026 Apr 21; Virtual.
Youth Perspectives on Distracted Driving and Hands-Free Driving Laws
Downer C, Louis RS, Amaro X, Zakrajsek J, Agarwal R, Waselewski M, Chang T. Youth Perspectives on Distracted Driving and Hands-Free Driving Laws. Oral presentation at: APHA 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo; 2025 Nov 4; Washington, DC and at the 2025 NAPCRG Annual Meeting; 2025 Nov 22; Atlanta, GA.
Our year by the numbers
Participants
Unique Zip Codes
Total text messages in the past year
Total text messages since our start
Demographics
Locations
Age
Gender
Hispanic
Region
Race
Self-Reported SES
SNAP beneficiary
Researchers
Undergraduate Students
Carson Downer
Hannah Hua
Keri Geter
Sophia Davis
Trinity Amalraj
Alyssa Tisch
Abby Frank
Arianne Hunter
Ava Breitung
Ava Russell
Elaine Chen
Perla Soto
Graduate Student
Claire Mellott
Medical Students
Ailish Dougherty
Christian Schaaff
Manvir Bains
Catherine Frost
Mahesh Gupta
Jasmine Sindelar
Lucia Kim
Mahesh Gupta
Meredith Redick
Trevor Cady
Residents and Fellows
Akshaya Santhanaraj, MD
Andrew Wong, MD, MS
Caleb Haley, MD
Collaborators
Amy Levner
Amy Yule, MD
Asari Offiong, PhD, MPH
Charlene Wong, MD, MSHP
Christopher Frank, MD, PhD
Cindy Leung, ScD, MPH
Elise Sheinberg, MPH, RDN
Julia Wolfson, PhD
Mary Todd Earnhardt
Sarah Bagley, MD, MSc
Faculty and Staff
Tammy Chang, MD, MPH, MS Marika Waselewski, MPH Kendrin Sonneville, ScD, RD Melissa Dejonckheere, PhD Sam Chuisano, MPH, CLC Elizabeth Katz, MA
Katie Grode
Our Collaborators
