Racism-based and Biomarkers of Stress

This feasibility study aims to explore how racism-induced stress impacts the brain and body and how a culturally responsive intervention can reduce the mental and physical effects of this stress among African Americans (AA). We aim to acquire methodological and protocol insights for a subsequent study by assessing 1) the feasibility of recruiting AA for a race-related study and collecting psychological and biomarkers of stress, 2) determining the association between racism-based stress surveys and biomarkers of stress, and 3) explore participants feedback on the impact of racism in their life and their willingness to participate in a 12-week mindfulness intervention with additional assessments, such as functional MRI testing.