Understanding how mentalizing helps youth facing inequality
Investigating Mentalizing as a Cognitive Strength and Protective Factor Among Youth Impacted by Structural Inequality
This study is looking at how understanding other people's feelings and thoughts can help young people who face tough situations, like growing up in poverty, to build better relationships and stay mentally healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship 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 ID | NIH-11070614 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how the ability to understand others' thoughts and emotions, known as mentalizing, can serve as a protective factor for youth affected by structural inequality, such as poverty. The study focuses on how these cognitive strengths can help young people navigate challenging environments and maintain supportive social relationships. By examining the neural and behavioral differences in youth exposed to adversity, the research aims to identify ways to bolster mentalizing skills as a means of improving mental health outcomes. Participants will be assessed through various cognitive and social measures to understand the impact of mentalizing on their development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are youth aged 0-20 who are experiencing or have experienced structural inequality, such as poverty.
Not a fit: Patients who do not face any form of structural inequality or those outside the age range of 0-20 may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance mental health interventions for youth by promoting cognitive skills that protect against the negative effects of inequality.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that enhancing cognitive skills like mentalizing can lead to improved social outcomes in youth, suggesting a promising avenue for this approach.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Navarro, Esmeralda — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Navarro, Esmeralda
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.