Exploring how restorative justice policies affect mental health in girls who survive dating violence
Official title: 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
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10997540 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $43,583 |
| NIH project number | 1F31MH138053-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997540 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced dating violence or who are outside the adolescent age range may not receive benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
A digital health tool to help families prevent violence and boost child mental health
A digital family-centered program is being tested to help children with behavior and mood problems and to support their families, especially in school settings.
-
Integrative mobile program to prevent SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new smartphone-based program helps female sex workers in Kenya manage substance use, violence exposure, HIV risk, and mental health through group sessions, supportive online resources, and a community forum.
-
Digital family program to reduce family violence and support children's mental health
An online family program helps parents reduce family violence and support children's mental health for school-aged children and their families.
-
How violence and political events affect food access and mental well-being in the West Bank and Gaza
This project looks at how violent and non-violent political events relate to people's access to food and mental health in the occupied Palestinian territories.
-
A digital tool to help families prevent violence and support children's mental health.
This study is testing a new online program called Family Check-Up Online that helps families improve their children's mental health and behavior, especially after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's designed to be used in schools.
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.