Long-term study on how threat exposure links to emotional reactions and self-harm thoughts in youth
Official title: Longitudinal examination of emotional reactivity and reactive aggression linking threat exposure with childhood self-injurious thoughts and behaviors
Funded at Research Triangle Institute · NIH-11360221 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows young people to understand how scary or threatening experiences might shape emotional responses and the risk of self-injury thoughts or behaviors over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $863,532 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131565-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360221 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents who have experienced exposure to threat and exhibit emotional reactivity or reactive aggression may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Youth without exposure to threat or without elevated emotional reactivity may have limited direct benefit from this specific study.
What this research studies
The study looks at how exposure to threats in a child’s life could influence emotional reactivity and impulsive aggression, potentially leading to self-injury thoughts or behaviors. It follows participants across multiple years to map changes in emotions, behavior, and risk after threat or stress. Researchers will collect data through interviews, questionnaires, and closely monitored assessments to see how short-term events affect youth differently depending on age. The goal is to identify early indicators so families and clinicians can intervene sooner to reduce risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help doctors and families spot early warning signs and tailor prevention strategies for self-injury risk in children and teens.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows a link between threat exposure and later emotional and behavioral risks; this study extends those findings to younger ages with a prospective design.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oppenheimer, Caroline — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Oppenheimer, Caroline
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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.