Chelsea Olson, PhD

Education

BA, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
MS, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
PhD, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Professional Activities

Dr. Chelsea Olson is scientist I in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. She is a research scientist on the Social Media and Adolescent Health Research Team (SMAHRT) under Dr. Megan Moreno. Olson obtained a PhD in Educational Psychology with a focus on Human Development. She has experience with both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including research design, data collection, and data analysis. On SMAHRT, Olson manages the Technology and Adolescent Mental Wellness (TAM) Program, where she oversees a data consortium, coordinates a colloquium, leads a youth advisory board, and maintains a community of individuals interested in technology and youth wellness. Olson has authored peer reviewed articles, presented research at local and national conferences, and has given several community talks on social media and youth mental health. She also provides teaching and mentoring to team members, including undergraduate and graduate students.

Research Interests

Olson’s current work on SMAHRT is focused on social media and youth health. She has contributed to several research projects focused on adolescent and young adult’s social media displays of health behaviors. Olson also maintains research that is focused on the cyberstalking experiences of youth on and off social media and associations with health and well-being. Her prior work has focused on the intersection of social media and peer relationships, and how positive (e.g., information seeking) and negative (e.g., cyberbullying) experiences impact the mental health of adolescents.