Wearables and real-time surveys to explore cannabis use and depression in young adults
Using wearables and EMA to examine the links between cannabis and depression
This project uses wearable devices and short, real-time surveys to see how cannabis use, daily mood, and sleep relate in young adults with depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247900 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear a small device that tracks sleep and activity and answer brief surveys several times a day about your mood and cannabis use. The team combines these momentary reports and wearable data to look for patterns linking cannabis use to changes in sleep and negative feelings. The focus is on young adults and disadvantaged groups who have rising rates of depression and cannabis use. Data are collected over time to capture how short-term effects may lead to longer-term changes in mood and sleep.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young adults who experience depressive symptoms and use cannabis, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Not a fit: People who do not use cannabis, do not have depressive symptoms, are outside the target age range, or cannot wear devices or complete brief surveys are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to times when cannabis use worsens sleep or mood and suggest targets for personalized support or early intervention.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using momentary surveys and wearables have found links between sleep, mood, and substance use, but combining these methods to study cannabis-related changes in young adults is still an emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sokolovsky, Alexander William — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Sokolovsky, Alexander William
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 below.