Understanding rejection sensitivity and mental health in LGBTQ+ teens
Official title: A longitudinal and experience sampling investigation of rejection sensitivity and its role in sexual minority adolescents' mental health
Funded at Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci · NIH-11381580 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study follows LGBTQ+ adolescents to see how worries about rejection affect their mood and mental well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $700,542 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH130375-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381580 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Sexual minority adolescents and young adults who experience rejection-related stress and related mental health concerns.
✕Less likely to help
Teens who do not experience rejection or related mental health issues may be less directly affected by the findings.
What this research studies
This project tracks how teens experience rejection and the emotions tied to those expectations over time, to understand how these feelings relate to anxiety, depression, and related behaviors. Researchers will collect diary-style reports and survey data from participants to map patterns across adolescence into early adulthood. The goal is to identify risk and protective factors so clinicians and families can better support SMA youth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better mental health support and interventions for sexual minority adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in adults show RS relates to mental health; this study extends understanding to SMA youth with a longitudinal approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
North Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feinstein, Brian — Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
- Study coordinator: Feinstein, Brian
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How worries about rejection affect mental health in LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults
Researchers will follow sexual minority teens and young adults and use short, real-time smartphone prompts to learn how expecting or feeling rejection links to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
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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.