Exploring how restorative justice policies affect mental health in girls who survive dating violence
Examining the Role of State-level Restorative Justice Policies and their Implementation in Mental Health Disparities among Adolescent Dating Violence Girl Survivors: A Mixed Methods Study
This study is looking at how certain state laws that promote restorative justice can help improve the mental health of teenage girls who have gone through dating violence, by giving them a chance to share their stories and hold their partners accountable, and it aims to find out if these laws can help reduce feelings of depression and thoughts of suicide over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10997540 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of state-level restorative justice policies on the mental health of adolescent girls who have experienced dating violence. By allowing survivors to share their experiences and encouraging accountability from perpetrators, the study aims to assess whether these policies can reduce depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts over time. The research employs a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative interviews to understand the experiences of these girls, particularly focusing on differences across racial and ethnic groups. The goal is to identify effective strategies for improving mental health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescent girls who have experienced dating violence and are affected by mental health issues such as depression or suicidal ideation.
Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced dating violence or who are outside the adolescent age range may not receive benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health support and prevention strategies for adolescent girls who are survivors of dating violence.
How similar studies have performed: While restorative justice has been explored in various contexts, this specific focus on its impact on mental health disparities among adolescent dating violence survivors is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharpless, Laurel Ann — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Sharpless, Laurel Ann
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 below.