Using smartphone mindfulness training to improve health after childhood adversity

Smartphone-based mindfulness training for health following early life adversity

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10903799

This study is looking at how using a mindfulness app on your smartphone can help young adults who faced tough times in childhood, like trauma or neglect, by reducing stress and improving their health. Participants will take part in a 14-lesson program and share their daily stress levels and health information, with the hope of creating a personalized mindfulness tool that can help them when they feel stressed.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10903799 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how smartphone-based mindfulness training can help individuals who experienced early life adversity, such as trauma or neglect during childhood. It aims to determine if mindfulness practices can effectively reduce stress and improve health outcomes in young adults with such backgrounds. Participants will engage in a 14-lesson mindfulness program while providing data on their daily stress levels and biological markers through mobile sensors and blood samples. The ultimate goal is to develop a personalized mindfulness intervention that can be triggered by stress in real-time.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are young adults aged 21 and older who have a history of early life adversity.

Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced early life adversity may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, accessible method for improving health and reducing stress in individuals affected by early life adversity.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that mindfulness interventions can be effective in reducing stress and improving health, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, 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.
Conditions Autoimmune Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.