Improving family communication to enhance youth mental health
Effectiveness of an Empirically Supported Family Intervention: Mental Health Outcomes, Mechanisms of Effect, and Organizational Factors
This study is testing a friendly program called the Happy Families Curriculum that helps families communicate better and reduce conflicts, with the goal of improving the mental health of children and teens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11002349 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates a brief, cost-effective program designed to enhance family communication and reduce conflict, ultimately aiming to improve mental health outcomes for children and adolescents. The program, known as the Happy Families Curriculum, has been rigorously tested in various settings and is now being evaluated in real-world community contexts. By implementing this program in diverse environments, the research seeks to understand how it can effectively support families facing different levels of risk. Participants will engage in four sessions of psycho-educational training focused on communication skills and emotional security.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are families with children aged 0-11 who are experiencing communication challenges or mental health concerns.
Not a fit: Families without children in the specified age range or those not facing communication or mental health issues may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide families with effective tools to improve communication and mental health outcomes for their children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous efficacy trials have shown positive outcomes for the Happy Families Curriculum, indicating potential for success in this effectiveness trial.
Where this research is happening
Notre Dame, United States
- University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cummings, Edward Mark — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Cummings, Edward Mark
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.