The impact of childhood maltreatment on negative thinking and mental health in teens.

Project 1: Childhood Maltreatment, Repetitive Negative Thinking, and Mental Health in Adolescence: A 12-Year Longitudinal Study

NIH-funded research Miriam Hospital · NIH-10928180

This study looks at how tough experiences in childhood can lead teenagers to think negatively and struggle with their mental health, aiming to find ways to help them break free from those negative thoughts.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMiriam Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Providence, United States)
Project IDNIH-10928180 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how experiences of childhood maltreatment affect the way adolescents think negatively and their overall mental health. It focuses on understanding the cognitive processes that lead to repetitive negative thinking (RNT), which can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. By studying adolescents who have faced such adversities, the research aims to identify cognitive control deficits that may hinder their ability to move past negative thoughts. The findings could help in developing targeted interventions for those at risk due to their early life experiences.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have experienced childhood maltreatment.

Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced childhood maltreatment or are outside the age range of 12 to 20 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment strategies for adolescents struggling with mental health issues stemming from childhood maltreatment.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that understanding cognitive processes related to childhood adversity can lead to significant advancements in mental health treatment, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Providence, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.