(MPIs: T. Sease & K. Knight)
Funded by the TCU College of Science & Engineering Dean’s Opportunity Fund
People involved with the legal system experience elevated rates of substance use, mental health disorders, infectious diseases, and physical health problems relative to the general population. Additionally, many report a history of childhood adversity, unstable or unhealthy personal relationships, or harsh living conditions. Given these challenges, targeted interventions that promote resilience and well-being in the face of adversity are critical to improving the short- and long-term health outcomes for this at-risk population.
This pilot project aims to:
- Develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI) application guided by the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
- Test the intervention’s acceptability and feasibility using a sample of 30 people on probation or parole.
The project is structured in two phases:
Phase 2: Recruit an additional 30 participants to test the program’s feasibility and acceptability. This phase will also generate preliminary estimates of the intervention’s short-term impact on well-being. A machine learning algorithm will be applied to the data collected during Phase 2 to create a final product that provides clients with personalized exercises designed to promote psychological strength.
Phase 1: Conduct interviews with 15 people on probation or parole to explore their understanding of well-being and resilience. A generative AI model will extract themes from the interviews to guide the development of a cell phone-based interactive intervention delivered through an application-based interface (API).
