School environment factors affecting youth mental health
Official title: School Environment Drivers of Youth Mental Health Trajectories
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11575314 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study following children and teens to see how schools influence mental health and resilience, in the United States and Tanzania.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $19,699 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH131675-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11575314 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are school-age children and adolescents in the United States and Tanzania, with a focus on those experiencing adversity.
✕Less likely to help
Participants in schools with limited access to mental health resources or in settings where school environments are not the primary drivers of well-being may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will follow students from elementary to late adolescence to understand how classroom and school routines affect anxiety, depression, and well-being. Researchers will create and test simple, multi-informant measures of the primary school environment and track mental health trajectories over time. The study will also examine whether supportive school environments lessen the impact of violence exposure and deprivation. The international component in Tanzania will help clarify how school settings shape mental health in high-adversity contexts. Findings could guide school-based prevention efforts and policies to promote youths’ mental health and resilience.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better school practices that support student mental health and reduce anxiety and depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests school environments influence youth mental health, but this study will add longitudinal, multi-informant data in diverse settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reyes, H. Luz Mcnaughton — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Reyes, H. Luz Mcnaughton
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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.