Exploring how social motivation in teens affects suicidal thoughts after childhood trauma
Official title: Does social motivation in adolescence differentially predict the impact of childhood threat exposure on developing suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10920474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how wanting to connect with others affects the way kids who have faced tough experiences in childhood might think about or act on suicidal feelings, and it's for young people who have gone through difficult times.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| 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 | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $184,453 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH135163-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10920474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have experienced childhood threats or trauma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced any form of childhood threat or trauma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social motivation in adolescents influences the relationship between childhood experiences of threat and the development of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It aims to identify factors that may increase the risk of these thoughts and behaviors in young people who have faced childhood adversity. The study will utilize self-reports, brain imaging, and behavioral assessments to understand these dynamics better. By examining the interplay between social motivation and childhood threat exposure, the research seeks to uncover new avenues for suicide prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents who have experienced childhood trauma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the interplay between social factors and mental health can lead to significant advancements in suicide prevention strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baldelli, Andrea Pelletier — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Baldelli, Andrea Pelletier
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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.