Our Voices Matter: Racial Justice Activism Intervention to Address Structural Racism and Prevent Depression in Black and Latinx Youth - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Over 15 million people participated in racial justice protests nationwide, following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, spotlighting activism as a collective tool against structural racism and discrimination (SRD). SRD manifests as policies and practices (e.g., redlining, voter suppression, mass incarceration) that produce hostile environments which contribute to psychological distress, elevated allostatic load, and an elevated risk for chronic diseases and premature death, concentrated within Black and Latinx populations. While the connection between SRD and health is well documented, few studies provide evidence on strategies to reduce SRD and mitigate consequences on psychological and physiological outcomes. Thus, there is a critical need to rigorously test interventions that address the root causes of SRD and reduce SRD’s influence on the mental and physical health of Black and Latinx populations, beginning in adolescence. The specific aims of the study are to 1) Determine whether a racial justice activism behavioral intervention prevents and reduces depressive symptoms in Black and Latinx adolescents and young adults and 2) Determine whether a racial justice activism behavioral intervention lowers allostatic load scores in Black and Latinx adolescents and young adults. To accomplish these aims, the team will conduct a stage II group-based, multi-component, and multilevel randomized behavioral clinical trial. We will collect psychological and physiological measures at baseline, then at 6-month intervals for 2 years post racial justice activism intervention.
