Mindfulness and breathing feedback to help distressed young adults feel better
Official title: Mindfulness Meditation and Respiration Biosignal Feedback
Funded at Equa Health, INC. · NIH-11411494 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small program will test a mindfulness app for young adults (18–30) that adds real-time breathing feedback to help reduce anxiety and loneliness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Equa Health, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $907,396 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MH134709-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411494 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults 18–30 who are distressed, seeking digital mental health support, and willing to use a mindfulness app.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without interest in digital mindfulness tools or those who do not engage with the app may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on earlier trials of a digital mindfulness app called Equa and tests a new breathing-biosignal feedback feature to help users stay engaged and improve mental health. In Phase I, researchers will validate the respiration feedback tool within the Equa app among distressed young adults. In Phase II, they will evaluate whether the breathing feedback boosts engagement and improves mental health outcomes in this same population. The study uses a 3-arm clinical trial design to compare variants of the app with and without feedback and standard care, conducted by EQUA HEALTH, INC. and led by John David Creswell.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the enhanced Equa app could sustain mindfulness practice longer and reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety, and loneliness in young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials suggest engagement with digital mindfulness programs correlates with better outcomes, but this respiration-feedback addition is a novel enhancement.
Where this research is happening
-
Equa Health, INC.
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Creswell, John David — Equa Health, INC.
- Study coordinator: Creswell, John David
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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.