NIH-funded research Fellowship grant

Exploring how Black adolescents cope with racial discrimination and its effects on mental health

Official title: A Physiological Approach to Examining the Role of Racial Coping on Mental Health Among Black Adolescents

Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-10910876 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study looks at how racial discrimination affects the mental health of Black teens and explores the ways they cope with these challenges, aiming to understand how good coping strategies can help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety.

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVirginia Commonwealth University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Richmond, United States)
Project startAugust 25, 2023
Project endJuly 31, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$51,974
NIH project number5F31MD018934-02
Project IDNIH-10910876 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are Black adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have experienced racial discrimination.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not identify as Black or who have not experienced racial discrimination may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of racial discrimination on the mental health of Black adolescents, focusing on how they cope with these experiences. It employs a multi-method approach to understand the nature of racial coping, identify cultural parenting processes that influence coping strategies, and examine how effective coping can mitigate the negative effects of racial stress on mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety. By gathering data through various methods, the research aims to provide insights into the psychological challenges faced by Black youth and the role of their coping mechanisms.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health interventions tailored for Black adolescents facing racial discrimination.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding coping mechanisms in minority populations can lead to significant improvements in mental health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • Virginia Commonwealth University
    Richmond, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Davis, Rachel J — Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Study coordinator: Davis, Rachel J

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.