A Mindfulness App for Youth in the Legal System

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Decreasing Psychological Distress among Youth in the Legal System: Multi-Site Feasibility Trial of a Mindfulness Meditation App

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11128681

This project offers a mindfulness meditation app to help young people in the legal system feel better and reduce stress.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11128681 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Young people involved with the legal system often experience lower well-being and higher stress, which can affect their quality of life and long-term health. This happens partly because they may struggle with managing their emotions, and mindfulness meditation is a helpful way to improve emotional regulation. This project uses a smartphone app to deliver meditation practices, making it easy for youth on probation to access support in their daily lives. We want to see if this app can make a real difference in their psychological well-being.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are young people currently involved with the legal system, specifically those on probation, who are experiencing psychological distress or diminished well-being.

Not a fit: Patients not currently involved with the legal system or those not experiencing psychological distress may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this app could provide an accessible and effective tool for youth in the legal system to improve their emotional health and reduce stress.

How similar studies have performed: A prior feasibility effort showed strong support for the approach, including successful recruitment, high app usage, and good retention rates.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.