Geographically-Explicit Ecological Momentary Assessment Protocol to Assess the Linkages Between Intersectional Discrimination and CVD Risk Among Sexual and Gender Minorities

Existing approaches to measuring intersectional discrimination (i.e., racial/ethnic-, sexual orientation, and/or gender-related) and related cardiometabolic health behaviors (CHB; i.e., physical inactivity, dysregulated sleep, and tobacco and alcohol use) lack the ability to capture the real-world context in which intersectional discrimination occurs, the momentary appraisal of such events, and resultant behaviors.

This 4-year, NIH funded study will use a validated novel geographically-explicit momentary assessment (GEMA) method which allows for the accurate capturing of the duration and frequency of exposure situated within the context in which these behaviors and exposures occur among young sexual and gender minorities (YSGM) as well as explore risk and protective factors for harmful CHB among diverse YSGM.

Further, this study will demonstrate the utility of the predictive models and variable creation for future CHB Just in Time interventions.

Social Media Discrimination, Cardiometabolic Health Behaviors, and Social Protections among Sexual and Gender Minorities

Evidence indicates that race/ethnicity-, sexual orientation, and gender-related discrimination is linked to increased harmful cardiometabolic health behaviors (CHB; e.g., sleep, physical activity, and tobacco and alcohol use). However, there is limited research demonstrating the influence of online discrimination, a critical social determinate of health, on CHB among potentially vulnerable groups of SGM.

This 4-year NIH funded study will illuminate how discrimination operates in online environments and physical spaces, which can be used to better distill risk and inform targeted mediums for harmful CHB prevention interventions among SGM.

Stress and Cardiovascular Health among Young Sexual Minority Men ("CVD-I")

This study aims to examine whether social support buffers the association between the negative effects of minority stress and pre-clinical cardiovascular disease.

Identifying Physiological and Behavioral Mechanisms Linking Discrimination and Subclinial Cardiovascular Disease among Racially Diverse Young Sexual Minority Men ("CVD-II")

The objective of this study is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms linking self-reported discrimination to C-reactive protein, a biomarker of inflammation, in a racially diverse group of YSMM aged 18-35. The long-term objective of this research is to inform the creation of culturally relevant interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among YSMM.

GeoSENSE: Geospatial Study on Intersectionality, Discrimination, and Cardiometabolic Health Behaviors Among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities ("CVD-III")

This study aims to characterize instances of intersectional discrimination and to understand key environmental risks and protective resources to measure CHB among YSGM. This study carries out a two-stage, explanatory sequential mixed-methods study in which two types of data are collected from participants: Geographically-Explicit Ecological Momentary Assessment (GEMA) data and in-depth interviews.

The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

MESA is a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLB)-funded longitudinal medical research study aimed at studying the signs of subclinical cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. MESA utilizes a racially diverse, population-based sample of over 6,000 asymptomatic men and women between the ages of 45 and 84. The purpose of this secondary data analysis is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms underpinning self-reported discrimination and carotid ultrasound measures (i.e., measures that examine patterns of subclinical cardiovascular disease and inflammation) among a racially diverse sample of men and women.

All of Us Research Program

The objective of our secondary data analysis with the All of Us Data Program is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms that link self-reported discrimination to C-reactive protein (CRP), which is an intermediate outcome used to assess preclinical cardiovascular disease, in a racially diverse sample of men and women. Moreover, potential buffers (e.g., social support) that mitigate the negative effects of discrimination on CRP will be explored. The long-term goal of this research is to inform culturally relevant interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among a racially diverse sample of men and women.

Optimizing a Daily Mindfulness Intervention to Reduce Stress for Discrimination among Sexual and Gender Minorities of Color ("REDUCE")

This study utilizes the innovative daily diary multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) which employs an 8-component factorial experiment to determine the most effective, efficient, and immediately scalable combination of the mindfulness intervention components of awareness, purpose, connection, and positive reappraisal.

Flint Adolescent Study

The Flint Adolescent Study (FAS) began in 1994 and is an ongoing interview study that began with 850 9th graders in Flint, MI. The purpose of this study is to examine patterns of risk and resilience throughout the life-course.

U.S. Transgender Survey

In 2015, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) conducted a survey of over 25,000 transgender and gender non-conforming respondents from all fifty states to ascertain information across a wide array of areas, including education, housing, and discrimination.

Microaggressions and Health Behaviors of Young Sexual Minority Men

This study seeks to examine the association between perceived exposure to sexual orientation and race-related microaggressions and biological stress functioning using a daily diary approach.