GRIT retreat for violence-exposed women veterans
Official title: A Pilot Study to Examine Acceptability and Feasibility of Growth, Resilience, Insight, and Togetherness (GRIT), a Retreat-Based Program for Violence-Exposed Women Veterans
Funded at Providence VA Medical Center · NIH-11344318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A friendly, patient-centered look at a retreat program for women veterans who’ve experienced violence, to see if it’s acceptable and feasible as a social and mental health support option.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Providence VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2026 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1I21RD000358-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11344318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women veterans who have experienced interpersonal violence and are engaged with VA services.
✕Less likely to help
Women veterans who do not experience violence exposure or who are not interested in retreat-based social programs may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests GRIT, a retreat-based program designed to boost connection, resilience, and well-being for violence-exposed women veterans. It will compare the in-person GRIT retreat to a self-guided version called GRI to see which approach is more acceptable and feasible within the VA system. The study will explore how participating in these programs affects social functioning, mood, and suicidal risk factors, with attention to safety and support needs. The findings could inform future VA programming to expand access to community-building activities that support holistic health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could offer a practical, VA-endorsed option to strengthen social support and resilience for women veterans at risk of psychosocial distress.
How similar studies have gone: Retreat-based programs have shown improvements in mental health and quality of life in other populations, but this is a novel application for violence-exposed women veterans within the VA.
Where this research is happening
-
Providence VA Medical Center
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Primack, Jennifer Marie — Providence VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Primack, Jennifer Marie
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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.