Understanding how social experiences affect mental health in adolescent girls
Official title: Neural sensitivity to social evaluation and daily online and in-person social experience with peers: Predicting fluctuations in suicidality, self-harm, and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11124028 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how daily social interactions, both online and in person, affect the mental health of girls aged 13-17, especially those who are at higher risk for issues like depression and self-harm, to help find ways to support them better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $714,042 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH124866-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124028 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescent girls aged 13-17, particularly those who are at high risk for suicide or have a history of self-harm.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescent girls or those who do not experience mental health issues related to social evaluation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between social evaluation and mental health issues such as suicidality, self-harm, and depression in adolescent girls. By using ecological momentary assessment, the study captures real-time data on how daily online and in-person social interactions influence these mental health outcomes. The research focuses on a sample of adolescent girls aged 13-17, particularly those at high risk for suicide, to better understand the factors that contribute to fluctuations in their mental health. The goal is to identify patterns that could inform prevention strategies and interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention of suicidality and self-harm in adolescent girls.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that social evaluation can significantly impact mental health, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silk, Jennifer S — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Silk, Jennifer S
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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.