Understanding Social Disconnection in Young People

Understanding the Development of Social Disconnection in Youth

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · NIH-11375740

This project explores why some young people feel socially disconnected and how their bodies react to stress.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS (nih funded)
Locations1 site (DAVIS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11375740 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Many young people experience loneliness and social disconnection, which can affect their health now and in the future. We want to understand how stress responses in the body might influence whether adolescents withdraw or seek connection when facing social challenges. Our team will invite 280 adolescents, aged 11-16, to participate in activities that create mild social stress. We will then measure their biological and behavioral responses to learn more about how personality and relationships play a role.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are adolescents between 11 and 16 years old who are willing to complete social evaluation stressors and biobehavioral assessments.

Not a fit: Patients outside the 11-16 age range or those not experiencing social disconnection may not directly benefit from participating in this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand the roots of social disconnection in youth, potentially leading to new ways to support young people's mental and physical well-being.

How similar studies have performed: While Taylor's theory on stress responses has been studied in adults, this project is novel in its focus on understanding these social-behavioral profiles specifically in adolescents.

Where this research is happening

DAVIS, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.