Using positive emotions to help teens manage asthma
Official title: Positive Affect and Pediatric Asthma: An Innovative Positive Psychology Model to Improve Asthma Management and Health
Funded at Chapman University · NIH-11126030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether boosting positive feelings can help adolescents with asthma stick to daily inhaler medicines and feel less stressed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Chapman University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orange, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $579,476 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166175-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126030 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 12–20 with persistent asthma who are prescribed daily preventive inhaled corticosteroids and have difficulty with adherence or high stress.
✕Less likely to help
This approach may not benefit children under 12, adults, or people whose asthma does not require daily preventive inhalers.
What this research studies
If you are a teen with asthma, researchers will teach simple skills from positive psychology to increase positive emotions like happiness and gratitude. The program aims to reduce stress and encourage regular use of daily inhaled corticosteroids, which prevent asthma attacks. Study staff will track inhaler use, stress levels, and asthma symptoms over time to see if the approach leads to better asthma control. The methods may include regular follow-up visits or remote check‑ins and behavior-focused coaching tailored for 12–20 year olds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help teens take their preventive inhalers more reliably, reduce stress, and improve overall asthma control.
How similar studies have gone: Positive-affect interventions have improved health behaviors in other conditions, but applying them specifically to adolescent asthma adherence is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Chapman University
Orange, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jenkins, Brooke — Chapman University
- Study coordinator: Jenkins, Brooke
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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.