How friends can help teenagers manage their emotions

Social Facilitation of Emotion Regulation in Adolescence

NIH-funded research University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10886502

This study is looking at how teenagers can manage their emotions better with the support of friends, and it wants to see if having a buddy around makes a difference compared to handling feelings on their own.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California Los Angeles NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, United States)
Project IDNIH-10886502 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how adolescents can better regulate their emotions with the help of friends. It focuses on the brain's response to social interactions and aims to understand if having a friend provide support can enhance emotional regulation compared to doing it alone. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the study will compare the effectiveness of social support in managing negative feelings among adolescents and adults. By exploring these dynamics, the research seeks to develop interventions that leverage peer influence for improved emotional well-being.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are interested in understanding and improving their emotional regulation skills.

Not a fit: Patients who are not in the adolescent age range or those who do not have access to supportive peer relationships may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for adolescents to manage their emotions more effectively, potentially improving their mental health.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that social support can enhance emotional regulation, suggesting that this approach may be effective.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.