Youth Mindfulness Training Research Study
Researchers are conducting a study to understand how app-based mindfulness training can help teens who tend to overthink or get stuck on negative thoughts.
Fast Facts
Ages 13-18
who are feeling sad, down, or stressed
Compensation
Provided
Conducted in Belmont, MA
Study Background
Can mindfulness apps help teens break free from negative thought patterns?
Researchers are conducting a study to explore how app-based mindfulness training can support teens who often get stuck on negative thoughts or overthink stressful events. The study invites parents of teens ages 13–18 to learn more about this research focused on teen emotional well-being. Participants will use a mindfulness app for 30 days, completing either a meditation-focused program or a “recharge and reflect” program designed to promote calm and self-awareness.
This 7-month study aims to better understand what makes meditation especially helpful for some teens and not others. By comparing different types of mindfulness training, researchers hope to discover how these tools can reduce overthinking, improve mood, and help teens respond to stress in healthier ways.
Study Background
Can mindfulness apps help teens break free from negative thought patterns?
Researchers are conducting a study to explore how app-based mindfulness training can support teens who often get stuck on negative thoughts or overthink stressful events. The study invites parents of teens ages 13–18 to learn more about this research focused on teen emotional well-being. Participants will use a mindfulness app for 30 days, completing either a meditation-focused program or a “recharge and reflect” program designed to promote calm and self-awareness.
This 7-month study aims to better understand what makes meditation especially helpful for some teens and not others. By comparing different types of mindfulness training, researchers hope to discover how these tools can reduce overthinking, improve mood, and help teens respond to stress in healthier ways.
Additional Information
This study is being done to understand how app-based mindfulness programs can help teens who often overthink or get stuck on negative thoughts. Researchers hope to learn what makes mindfulness and meditation especially effective for improving teen mood and stress management.
You/your teen may be eligible for this study if:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ages 13-18
- Feeling sad, down, or stressed
- Own an iPhone or Android smartphone
- If on psychotropic medication, must be on a stable dose for at least 2 months at the time of pretreatment scan session
Exclusion Criteria:
- Have had more than 5 hours of mindfulness activities (such as meditation)
- On stimulants
- In regular therapy (weekly or more frequent)
- Have braces or other permanent metal in the body (some permanent retainers are okay)
First Session (Zoom):
You and your teen will meet with study staff online to complete informational forms, an online questionnaire, and a brief clinical interview.Second Session (In-Person):
Your teen will visit the research site to complete another online questionnaire, play a computer game, and have an MRI scan. They will then be randomly assigned to either a 30-day mindfulness training program or a “recharge” program using a mobile app.30-Day App Period:
Your teen will complete 10–20 minutes of app-based activities each day for 30 days and answer short 1–2 minute daily surveys about their thoughts and mood.Third Session (In-Person):
Your teen will return for another MRI session similar to the second visit.6-Month Follow-Up:
You and your teen will be asked to complete online questionnaires to help researchers understand how the programs affected mood and thinking over time.
Yes, you or your teen will be paid for participating in this study. Total compensation for completing the entire study is $285, broken down as follows:
Zoom session: $50
First MRI scan: $50
Second MRI scan: $60
6-month follow-up surveys: $25
4 weeks of mindfulness app sessions and daily surveys: $40–$100, depending on how many sessions are completed
Payment is provided for each part of the study as it is completed.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.