Stress Reduction Intervention for Racism-Related Stress

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen by Karen Saban, RN, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Loyola University

Must not be taking: Glucocorticoids

Disqualifiers: Heart disease, Immune diseases, Cancer, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests if the RiSE program, a short online stress reduction course, can improve well-being and health in African American women at risk for heart or other health issues. The program teaches techniques to manage social stress and promote empowerment. The RiSE program is a short group-based stress reduction program designed to help Black women at risk for heart disease develop effective coping skills for dealing with chronic stress uniquely associated with being a minority.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using immune-altering medications like glucocorticoids, you may not be eligible to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment HEP, Health Education Program, RiSE, Resilience, Stress, and Ethnicity program for reducing racism-related stress?

Research suggests that interventions aimed at reducing racism can improve health by addressing social factors and empowering individuals, which aligns with the goals of the RiSE program. Additionally, coping strategies like John Henryism have shown positive health effects in managing stress related to racism, indicating potential benefits of similar stress reduction interventions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the HEP, RiSE treatment different from other treatments for racism-related stress?

The HEP, RiSE treatment is unique because it is a culturally tailored, group-based program specifically designed to help Black women at risk for cardiovascular disease develop coping skills for chronic stress related to racism, which is not addressed by standard treatments. It focuses on resilience and stress management, making it distinct from other interventions that may not consider the specific stressors faced by minorities. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Karen Saban, RN, PhD

Principal Investigator

Loyola University Chicago

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for African American women aged 50-70, post-menopausal, who can read and speak English. They must have risk factors for heart or metabolic disease like high blood pressure, large waist circumference, high cholesterol, or Type 2 diabetes. Excluded are those on immune-altering meds, with recent dental issues, smokers within 3 months, active cancer/infection/substance abuse issues or significant cardiovascular history.

Inclusion Criteria

Able to write, read, speak English

Self-identified AA or Black

I have a waist size over 88 cm, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or Type 2 diabetes.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a history of heart issues or stroke.

Substance abuse

Current smoker or has smoked in past 3 months

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in either the RiSE or Health Education program, meeting online weekly for 8 consecutive weeks

8 weeks

8 visits (virtual)

Booster Sessions

Two booster sessions occur one month and two months after completion of the interventions

2 months

2 visits (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for well-being, inflammation, and DNA methylation 6 months after the intervention

6 months

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• HEP (Behavioral Intervention)
• RiSE (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial Overview The study compares two programs: RiSE (Resilience and Stress Education) focusing on stress reduction related to racial experiences versus a general Health Education program (HEP). Both groups meet online weekly for eight weeks. The impact on well-being and biological markers of stress will be measured through saliva tests and health check-ups before the intervention starts until six months after it ends.

Participant Groups

Group I: Resilience, Stress, and Ethnicity (RiSE) program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Resilience, Stress, and Ethnicity (RiSE) program is an 8-session weekly group-based intervention that integrates cognitive-behavioral strategies focused on the biopsychosocial impact of racism, racial identity development, and empowerment. RiSE has three primary components: 1. processing and sharing experiences related to race based stress, 2. psychoeducation on the biopsychosocial impact of racism, 3. skill building and empowerment.

Group II: Health Education Program (HEP) Active Control 1 Intervention

Health Education Program

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Loyola University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

161

Recruited

31,400+

Jerome D. Jabbour

Loyola University

Chief Executive Officer since 2018

B.A. in Psychology from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland

Dr. Chris Cabell

Loyola University

Chief Medical Officer since 2024

Medical Degree and Masters in Health Sciences from Duke University

Columbia University

Collaborator

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

Dr. Katrina Armstrong

Columbia University

Chief Executive Officer

MD from Johns Hopkins University, MS in Epidemiology from Harvard School of Public Health

Dr. Katrina Armstrong

Columbia University

Chief Medical Officer

MD from Harvard Medical School

Findings from Research

The study developed two brief writing interventions focused on justice and injustice, showing that these prompts can significantly influence how African Americans respond to acute social stress, particularly during a stress test.

Results indicated that men benefited from the personal justice-only condition with improved emotional responses and lower blood pressure reactivity, while women showed more negative emotional responses and poorer performance, highlighting the need to consider gender differences in stress coping strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Writing about justice and injustice: Complex effects on affect, performance, threat, and biological responses to acute social stress among african American women and men. Lucas, T., Yamin, JB., Krohner, S., et al.[2023]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recognizing Racism in Medicine: A Student-Organized and Community-Engaged Health Professional Conference. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racism and Health II: A Needed Research Agenda for Effective Interventions. [2023]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coping, Discrimination, and Physical Health Conditions Among Predominantly Poor, Urban African Americans: Implications for Community-Level Health Services. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Writing about justice and injustice: Complex effects on affect, performance, threat, and biological responses to acute social stress among african American women and men. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racism at the intersections: Gender and socioeconomic differences in the experience of racism among African Americans. [2022]

6. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Qualitative evidence for Resilience, Stress, and Ethnicity (RiSE): A program to address race-based stress among Black women at risk for cardiovascular disease. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adaptation of the Coping With Stress Course for Black Adolescents in Low-Income Communities: Examples of Surface Structure and Deep Structure Cultural Adaptations. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hands Up, Now What?: Black Families' Reactions to Racial Socialization Interventions. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Compassionate meditation to heal from race-related stress: A pilot study with Asian Americans. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mitigating the health effects of systemic racism: Evaluation of the Race-Based Stress and Trauma Empowerment intervention. [2023]