Using smartphone meditation to help reduce depression in teenagers
Official title: Smartphone-based meditation training to reduce adolescent depression
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10884328 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using a smartphone app for meditation can help teenagers aged 12 to 20 feel less depressed, making it easier for them to access and personalize their mental health support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $135,370 |
| NIH project number | 5K01MH130752-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10884328 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are experiencing elevated depressive symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not within the age range of 12 to 20 or those without depressive symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how smartphone-based meditation training can help reduce symptoms of depression in adolescents aged 12 to 20. The approach utilizes mobile health technology to deliver meditation-based interventions, making them accessible and personalized for young people. By integrating personal sensing data from wearable devices, the study aims to understand how these interventions can effectively improve mental health outcomes. A sample of 150 adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms will participate in the program, which has shown promise in adult populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide an effective, accessible tool for adolescents to manage and reduce their depressive symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research on mobile health meditation interventions in adults has shown success, indicating potential for similar outcomes in adolescents.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hirshberg, Matthew — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Hirshberg, Matthew
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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.