Project Summary (Abstract)
South Asian Americans are disproportionately affected by hypertension and cardiovascular disease. To reduce
this health disparity, interventions should target modifiable health behaviors, e.g., physical activity. The
proposed F31 application combines a dissertation research project with broader training in cultural influences
on preventive health behaviors of South Asian Americans. The research project will employ a sequential
exploratory mixed methods design to investigate the social and cultural predictors of physical activity among
South Asian Americans with uncontrolled hypertension who participated in a culturally-tailored, community
health worker intervention. The first aim will examine dimensions of culture, social relationships, and motivation
as determinants of change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and, subsequently, hypertension status.
This will be accomplished by conducting a secondary quantitative analysis of data collected from 158 South
Asians participants randomly-assigned to the intervention arm. The second aim will provide an in-depth
qualitative analysis of cultural influences, experienced within the social (family) context, on physical activity
among South Asian Americans. Data will be collected by through family interviews, coded and analyzed in
conjunction with the quantitative findings. The broader fellowship training plan is designed to include
components that will inform the studies and increase research skills: (1) increasing knowledge of South Asian
American health; (b) strengthening skills in quantitative statistical methods and interpreting qualitative data;
and (c) continuing practice in research dissemination, facilitated by producing manuscripts and conference
presentations. This research and training will take place at the Graduate Center, City University of New York.
The study team includes mentors with relevant and diverse expertise led by Dr. Tracey Revenson, primary
sponsor, a renowned health psychologist who applies a socio-ecological perspective studying adjustment to
chronic. Dr. Nadia Islam, a co-sponsor, is a medical sociologist who develops culturally relevant community-
linkage models to South Asian communities as director of the cardiovascular disease and diabetes research
track for the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health, an NIMHD-funded National Research Center
of Excellence. Dr. Tyrel Starks, another co-sponsor, is a clinical psychologist with experience conducting
longitudinal analyses on health behavior intervention data; and, Dr. Cheryl Carmichael, a collaborator, is a
social psycholgist with expertise in relationship science. Together, the project, training plan, and mentorship
team will provide skills necessary to advance the applicant toward the long-term goal of becoming a health
psychology/behavioral medicine research scientist with a focus on translational research that can reduce
health disparities.
