Student Research Symposium Program Portal: Submission #235

Abstract Systemic discrimination continues to influence cardiovascular health in African American adults. Previous studies have focused on the physiological mechanisms that could be influencing the high rates of uncontrolled blood pressure. However, this study examines the relationship between racial discrimination and the ubiquity of hypertension in African Americans. Systematic review and meta-analysis are conducted to synthesize data from landmark cohorts, such as the Jackson Heart Study, to establish a definitive baseline for how discrimination-induced stress correlates with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM). The Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS) and Experiences of Discrimination (EOD) are utilized to validate data. Blood pressure outcomes are determined by collated office blood pressure, home monitoring, and 24-hour ambulatory (ABPM) data, with moderators and covariates including John Henryism, age, gender, and socioeconomic status. The research indicates a positive relationship between lifetime discrimination and burden of discrimination with a greater prevalence of hypertension. Examining the high-effort coping, known as John Henryism as a moderator and the racial disparities within clinical settings provides the potential to bridge the gap between mental health and cardiovascular physiology.