Evaluating a Meditation App to Improve Behavioral Health and Emotion Regulation for Youth on Probation in Cook County, IL

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a 1-month app-based meditation program for youth aged 13 to 20 who are on probation in Cook County, Illinois. This hybrid type 2 randomized controlled trial aims to assess whether using the meditation app can improve behavioral health outcomes, including reducing cannabis use problems, and whether improved emotion regulation plays a role in these effects. The study also looks at how well youth stick to using the app. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will use the Bodhi AIM meditation app, which guides users through daily meditation practices over 30 days, and the other group will use the HIB health promotion app that provides educational content on health topics but no meditation. Both apps are designed with similar time and structure, including daily audio or video sessions and additional to go practices. Youth will take part remotely, reporting their health outcomes at the start, after 1 month, and at 6 months. They will also complete real-time mood and substance use assessments during one-week periods at baseline and after 1 month. App use adherence is tracked automatically. The main outcomes measured include cannabis use problems and app adherence, while secondary measures include sexual behaviors, mood regulation, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, and alcohol use problems.

Testing the Effectiveness and Implementation of a Meditation App for Youth in the Legal System