Mindfulness Apps for Teen Anxiety and Depression
Mechanisms and Predictors of Change in App-Based Mindfulness Training for Adolescents
This project explores how smartphone mindfulness apps help teenagers manage anxiety and depression and who benefits most from using them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11101339 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many teenagers use mindfulness apps like Headspace to cope with feelings of anxiety and sadness. This project aims to understand how these apps work in the brain and for which teens they are most effective. Participants, aged 13-18, will use either a mindfulness app or a different active control app. Before and after using the app, they will have brain scans (fMRI) to see how their brain activity changes. This will help us learn more about the mental processes involved in feeling better.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 13-18 who experience symptoms of anxiety or depression and are interested in using a smartphone app to help manage these feelings.
Not a fit: Patients who do not experience anxiety or depressive symptoms, or who are not interested in app-based interventions, may not find direct benefit from this particular research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better recommendations for which teenagers might benefit most from mindfulness apps, offering a convenient and accessible way to support their mental well-being.
How similar studies have performed: While mindfulness meditation has shown promise for anxiety and depression, there is limited research specifically on how app-based mindfulness works for teenagers.
Where this research is happening
Belmont, United States
- Mclean Hospital — Belmont, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Webb, Christian Anthony — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Webb, Christian Anthony
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.