Black Women's Life Experience On Cardiovascular Health Via Ongoing Monitoring

A Biobehavioral Approach to Understand the Multilevel Determinants of Cardiovascular Health in Black Women

This pilot study uses a state-of-the-science combination of remote behavioral monitoring, real-time experience sampling, in-lab physiological assessments, and extraction of neighborhood-level characteristics to (1) Examine the impact of daily experience (i.e., racial discrimination, affective states, stress) on health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep) at the intrapersonal level among Black women; (2) Test the association between daily behaviors and impairments in biomarkers associated with vascular function/health (i.e., augmented systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, impaired peripheral/cerebral vascular function, increased large artery stiffness), as well as the impact of daily experience on the relationship between behaviors and vascular function; and (3) Explore the influence of neighborhood-level characteristics (i.e., social environment factors: i.e., neighborhood income and poverty, racial composition; and built environment context, such as park density and walkability) on daily experience and health behaviors.

Inclusion Criteria:

• born and identified as female;
• between 18-49 years old;
• self-identify as Black or African American;
• not currently pregnant;
• ownership of a smartphone with Internet access;
• able to speak and read English

Exclusion Criteria:

• diagnosed hypertension, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and/or neurological disorders;
• functional limitations or health issues that preclude physical activity;
• currently taking medications for thyroid function or psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, and mood disorders;
• current use of oral or inhalant corticosteroids for asthma;
• have regularly smoked within the last 2 years.