Feasibility Testing a Meditation App for Youth in the Legal System

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Behavioral Health

• Registration Number: NCT05146167
• Lead Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago

Brief Summary

This feasibility clinical trial aims to assess the feasibility of implementing a 1-month app-based meditation program with youth in the juvenile legal system. The primary questions it is designed to answer are:

1. Will youth adequately adhere to the 1-month meditation app?

2. Is it feasible to collect data remotely from youth on their self-reported cannabis use, sexual health, and mental health at baseline, 1, and 6 months?

Detailed Description

The investigators aim enroll 100 youth in Cook County, IL 13-18 years old who report regular access to an Apple or Android smartphone. Following completion of a baseline questionnaire, participants will be individually randomized at a 1:1 ratio to 1 of 2 smartphone app conditions: (1) Bodhi AIM (Action In Mindfulness), a 30-day meditation app or (2) HIB (Health In Balance), a health promotion control app matched to Bodhi AIM for time and structure. Follow-up assessments will occur at 1 and 6 months. All study activities will be remote.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-11-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-11-23
• Study First Posted: 2021-12-06
• Study Start: 2022-04-05
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Primary Completion: 2025-04-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-06-17
• Last Update Posted: 2025-06-22
• Study Completion: 2025-10-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 107

Inclusion Criteria

• 13-18 years old
• In probation programming (i.e., in legal programming but not detained) in Cook County, IL
• Have access to an Apple/Android smartphone
• Understand and provide assent/consent
• Have legal guardian permission (if under 18 years old)
• English-speaking, due to norming of instruments

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of participants who complete the cannabis use measure at each time point	Baseline, 1 month, 6 months	Cannabis use is measured with the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised
App adherence	1 month	Days of objective app usage
Percentage of participants who complete the sexual health measure at each time point	Baseline, 1 month, 6 months	Sexual health is measured with a modified version of the AIDS Risk Behavior Assessment
Percentage of participants who complete the mental health symptoms measure at each time point	Baseline, 1 month, 6 months	Mental health symptoms are measured with the Youth Self Report

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of participants who complete other substance use measures at each time point	Baseline, 1 month, 6 months	The other substance use measures include the Young Adult Alcohol Problem Scale, the Alcohol Trouble Scale, the Hangover Symptoms Scale, and a modified Substance Use Self-Efficacy Scale
Percentage of participants who complete other mental health measures at each time point	Baseline, 1 month, 6 months	The other mental health measures include the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire, the Short-Form Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, the Negative Mood Regulation Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10, and the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire-15

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Illinois at Chicago; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States