How social support affects stress during puberty
Social Buffering Over the Pubertal Transition
This study looks at how support from parents and friends can help reduce stress in kids aged 11 to 14 who are going through puberty, and it wants to learn more about how their brains respond to that support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10745337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how social support from parents and friends influences stress levels in adolescents going through puberty. It aims to understand the changes in the brain's response to social support during this critical developmental period. By examining various stress measures, including hormonal responses, the study seeks to uncover the neural mechanisms behind social buffering and how they may differ between boys and girls. Participants aged 11 to 14 will be involved in experiments that assess their reactions to stress in social contexts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are adolescents aged 11 to 14 who are experiencing the pubertal transition.
Not a fit: Patients outside the age range of 11 to 14 or those not undergoing puberty may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for managing stress in adolescents, potentially reducing the risk of stress-related mental health issues.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding social buffering, but this specific focus on puberty and neural responses is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gunnar, Megan R — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Gunnar, Megan R
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.