How primary schools shape children's mental health in Mwanza, Tanzania
School Environment as a Social Driver of Youth Mental Health Trajectories in Mwanza, Tanzania
This project looks at how everyday school life in Mwanza affects mental health and coping for primary-school-aged children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11376234 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will create measurement tools tailored to Tanzanian primary schools, then follow students and teachers over several years to link school experiences with anxiety, depression, and behavior. Data will come from students, teachers, and classroom observations to capture multiple parts of the school environment. Researchers will identify specific, changeable aspects of school life that support better mental health. The goal is to turn those findings into practical, low-cost strategies schools can use to prevent and reduce youth mental health problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are primary-school students (around 5th grade) and their teachers or schools in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Not a fit: Adults not connected to primary schools, people with acute psychiatric emergencies, or children outside the targeted schools or age range are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to school-based programs and simple changes that reduce anxiety and depression and help children learn and cope better in low-resource settings.
How similar studies have performed: Some school-based programs in other countries have helped children's mental health, but long-term, locally tailored research like this is rare in Tanzania.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reyes, H. Luz Mcnaughton — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Reyes, H. Luz Mcnaughton
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 below.