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

Effectiveness and Implementation of a Meditation App Addressing Substance Use, Sexual Health, and Emotion Regulation Among Legal-Involved Youth

The goals of this hybrid type 2 randomized controlled trial (RCT) are to evaluate the effectiveness and individual-level implementation of a 1-month app-based meditation program with youth on probation in Cook County, IL. The primary questions it is designed to answer are:

1. Is the meditation app associated with improvements in behavioral health outcomes including cannabis use problems?
2. Do improvements in emotion regulation appear to mediate the effects of the meditation app on these behavioral health outcomes?
3. Will youth adequately adhere to the meditation app?

This remote study will enroll 300 youth on probation in Cook County, IL, which encompasses Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Youth will be individually randomized to use either the meditation app or an active control app matched for time/structure daily for 30 days. Health outcomes will be self-reported at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months, and in real time via 1-week "bursts" of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) at baseline and 1 month (i.e., approximately overlapping with the last week of app use). Objective adherence to both apps will be captured automatically via in-app analytics.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 13-20 years old
• In probation programming (i.e., in legal programming but not detained) in Cook County
• 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