How friends' emotions affect each other during adolescence
Official title: Communication and Emotional Well-Being in Adolescent Best Friend Dyads: An Experience Sampling Method Study
Funded at Oregon Research Institute · NIH-10989965 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the feelings of teenage best friends can affect each other, especially when it comes to feeling down, and aims to find ways to help prevent depression among teens by understanding how they communicate and share emotions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Springfield, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | November 17, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $101,108 |
| NIH project number | 5R21MH135422-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10989965 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have a close friendship with another adolescent.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in a close friendship or who are outside the age range of 12 to 20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the emotional states of adolescent best friends influence each other, particularly focusing on the spread of depressive symptoms. By using an experience sampling method, the study collects real-time data on friends' feelings and communication patterns in both online and offline settings. The goal is to understand the mechanisms behind emotional contagion among friends and identify factors that may help prevent the spread of depression. This could lead to the development of targeted interventions to support adolescents during this critical period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective strategies for preventing depression among adolescents by enhancing their communication and emotional support systems.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that emotional contagion among peers can significantly impact mental health, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Research Institute
Springfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bastin, Margot — Oregon Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Bastin, Margot
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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.