A Mindfulness App for Youth in the Legal System
Official title: Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Decreasing Psychological Distress among Youth in the Legal System: Multi-Site Feasibility Trial of a Mindfulness Meditation App
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11128681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a mindfulness meditation app to help young people in the legal system feel better and reduce stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $498,791 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AT012892-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young people currently involved with the legal system, specifically those on probation, who are experiencing psychological distress or diminished well-being.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not currently involved with the legal system or those not experiencing psychological distress may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kendall, Ashley D. — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kendall, Ashley D.
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.