Understanding why young children might hurt themselves
Official title: Longitudinal examination of emotional reactivity and reactive aggression linking threat exposure with childhood self-injurious thoughts and behaviors
Funded at Research Triangle Institute · NIH-11145811 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how stressful experiences and strong emotions in young children connect to thoughts and actions of self-harm.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $845,984 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131565-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145811 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research focuses on young children who have experienced stressful or threatening situations and may be showing signs of emotional reactivity or aggression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are adults or do not have a history of threat exposure or self-injurious thoughts and behaviors may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
The grant focuses on self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in young children, which are often misunderstood but are a growing concern. We know that difficult or threatening experiences can increase a child's risk for STBs, possibly by making them more emotionally reactive or aggressive. This project aims to understand how these experiences lead to STBs in younger children, rather than just adolescents, by looking at how emotions and aggression develop. We also want to see if children are at higher risk for STBs right after stressful events.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help us identify young children at risk for self-harm earlier, leading to better support and prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: While previous research has linked threat exposure to self-harm in adolescents, this project explores these connections in younger children, which is an understudied area.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oppenheimer, Caroline — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Oppenheimer, Caroline
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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.