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 well-being 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).

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

Objective: Growing evidence demonstrates that perceived discrimination and racism are significant contributing factors to psychological distress, low-grade chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular health disparities among minorities, particularly among Black women. Despite this evidence, there are no evidence-based complementary therapy interventions available to ameliorate chronic stress associated with racism and discrimination. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel, 8-week, group-based stress reduction program, Resilience, Stress and Ethnicity (RiSE), designed to help Black women at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) develop effective coping skills for dealing with chronic stress uniquely associated with being a minority.