Preliminary evidence for a race-based stress reduction intervention for Black women at risk for cardiovascular disease

Objective: Despite evidence that chronic stress, racism, and discrimination impact the well-being and the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Black women, there are few evidence-based interventions that improve wellbeing and reduce the risk for CVD in women of minority groups. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the psychobehavioral and anti-inflammatory benefit of a race-based stress reduction program ?Resilience, Stress, and Ethnicity (RiSE) for Black women at risk for CVD. Methods: Black women were recruited from the Chicagoland community and randomized to either the 8-week RiSE intervention (n = 40) or control group (n = 34). Participants were assessed for coping strategies, psychological distress, and blood levels of TNF-alpha and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks after baseline. Results: Participation in RiSE was associated with a more rapid decline in the use of avoidance coping (b = -0.3585, SE = 0.1705, p < .01). Reductions over time in TNF-alpha (b = -0.0163, SE = .0087, p = .08) and hsCRP (b= -0.4064, SE = 0.2270, p = .08) approached statistical significance. Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary evidence in Black women at risk for CVD that RiSE contributes to decreases in avoidance coping. Although preliminary, these results suggest RiSE to be an effective intervention to promote improved coping associated with racism and discrimination in minorities.

Automated summary

The pilot study evaluated the psychobehavioral and anti-inflammatory benefits of the RiSE program for Black women at risk for CVD. Participation in RiSE was associated with a faster decline in avoidance coping strategies, and reductions in TNF-alpha and hsCRP approached statistical significance over time. These preliminary findings suggest that RiSE may be an effective intervention for promoting improved coping in minorities facing racism and discrimination.