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
Researchers will follow primary-school children in Mwanza, Tanzania to find which school factors help reduce anxiety and depression.
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-11376254 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child takes part in Mwanza, Tanzania, researchers will first create simple, locally appropriate tools to describe the school environment, including classroom relationships, safety, and resources. They will follow students over several years and collect information about mood, behavior, and school experiences. Teachers and school staff will also be involved so the team can link school features to children's mental health. The project aims to identify practical, low-cost school changes that could support kids' emotional wellbeing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are primary-school–aged children in Mwanza, Tanzania (and their teachers and schools), particularly those in early grades such as around 5th grade.
Not a fit: Children who already need specialized psychiatric care or adults not enrolled in primary school are unlikely to directly benefit from the school-focused prevention approaches tested here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to simple school-based changes that reduce anxiety and depression and make it easier for children to get mental health support.
How similar studies have performed: Some school-based programs have improved children's mental health in other countries, but rigorous long-term research in Tanzania and similar low-resource settings is limited.
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.