Healthy tech-use coaching for tweens and teens
Official title: Project 2: A brief motivational interviewing intervention to promote healthy technology use and prevent mental health and behavior problems
Funded at University of Oregon · NIH-11332805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Short motivational coaching plus online modules aim to help tweens and teens use phones and apps more healthily to reduce sleep problems, anxiety, and risky online behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oregon NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | May 7, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $206,968 |
| NIH project number | 5P50MH139449-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332805 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Tweens and adolescents (around 11 through late teens/young adults) who use technology a lot or who have sleep, mood, or behavior concerns related to online use would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Very young children, adults without adolescent roles, people with severe psychiatric conditions needing intensive care, or those without reliable internet access may not benefit from this brief, school-friendly program.
What this research studies
You would start with a brief conversation with a coach, complete self-checks for you and your caregiver, and get personalized feedback about your technology use. After that, youth complete four short online modules designed to build confidence and self-control around screens. The program is based on motivational interviewing and social-cognitive strategies and is designed to be delivered in school-based or online settings. The team will also use implementation science methods to make sure the program can fit into real schools and clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help young people sleep better, feel less anxious or depressed, and reduce risky or excessive technology use.
How similar studies have gone: Brief motivational interviewing has shown promise with adolescents for behavior change, but applying it specifically to technology use and scaling it in schools is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oregon
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doty, Jennifer L — University of Oregon
- Study coordinator: Doty, Jennifer L
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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.