Using technology to help young victims of maltreatment build resilience
Official title: Meeting young people where they are: Using technology to promote resilience among child maltreatment victims
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11058461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how technology, like texting and social media, can help young people who have faced tough situations find support and resources to improve their health and well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $130,072 |
| NIH project number | 5K01HD108393-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents aged 0-21 who have experienced maltreatment or are at risk of such experiences.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced maltreatment or are outside the age range of 0-21 may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and evaluate technology-based interventions that assist young people who have experienced maltreatment in seeking help and accessing resources. By leveraging preferred communication methods such as text, chat, and social media, the project seeks to create a supportive environment for these individuals. The approach focuses on understanding how technology can facilitate communication and provide necessary support to improve their mental, physical, and social health outcomes. The research will also involve training the principal investigator to enhance their skills in interdisciplinary research related to child and adolescent health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the resilience and overall well-being of young victims of maltreatment by providing them with accessible support and resources.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using technology to support vulnerable populations, indicating that this approach has potential for effectiveness.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwab-Reese, Laura M — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Schwab-Reese, Laura M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how child maltreatment and youth environments affect substance use in adolescents
This study looks at how experiences of abuse and the places kids hang out can affect their chances of using drugs or alcohol, and it aims to find ways to help vulnerable teens stay strong and avoid these risks.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
-
Understanding how neurons resist and recover from toxic chemicals
Researchers are studying how brain cells fight back against harmful chemicals to help people survive exposure.
-
Fostering Community Connections to Strengthen Youth Resilience and Well-Being
A Hawaii-based effort helps teens and young adults get mental health and preventive care more easily by building local networks and smart referral pathways.
-
Indigenous healthy homes and communities to improve health and resilience
A community-led effort in Indigenous communities in the US Southwest aims to improve housing and health, focusing on safer homes, cleaner indoor environments, and access to culturally competent care.
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.