Quédate Tranquila: A Mobile, Web-based Stress Management Intervention for Hispanic Women - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT One in three Latinx adults report having extreme levels of stress and are more likely to say their stress has increased in the past year. Stress in Hispanics has been linked to high rates of depression, higher cardiovascular disease, and increased diabetes risk. High rates of stress and negative health outcomes among Latinx may be the result of the unique stressors (i.e., acculturative and discrimination) they encounter, which are not experienced by the general U.S. population. Indeed, acculturative stress and discrimination have been linked to poor health outcomes. Moreover, Latinas experience greater perceived stress and negative psychological outcomes compared to their male counters. Because Hispanic women have multiple social identities (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status) that interact with different forms of systemic oppression, this leads to higher levels of overall and cultural stress. Clearly defined gender-based roles are integral to Latinx cultural and contribute to both acculturative and discrimination-related stress. Both cognitive-behavioral stress management interventions (CBSMi) and mindfulness meditation training have demonstrated success in reducing stress among Hispanics. However, Hispanics lack access to quality health care (including mental health services) and cultural values prevent them from seeking out services to address their mental health needs. One emerging accessible and cost-effective solution is mHealth, yet there is a dearth of mHealth solutions that are developed specifically to address the stressors that Hispanics females face. Therefore, we aim to develop Quédate Tranquila, a mobile CBSMi (m-CBSMi) that is tailored to the lived experiences of Hispanic women. Quédate Tranquila will utilize theory (Transactional Model of Stress) to reduce affective, behavioral, and physiological responses to stress and its downstream health consequences among Latinas. The m-CBSMi will aim to foster and support healthy coping responses to stress by incorporating culturally tailored content in the form of videos, video testimonials, mobile tools that provide additional social support, and interactive pages that incorporate quizzes and activities. In Phase I, a prototype m-CBSMi was developed. This development was informed by formative research with staff members from a federally qualified health center and Hispanic women 18 years of age and older. The results of Phase I strongly support the feasibility and potential effectiveness of the intervention, far exceeding benchmarks established in the Phase I proposal. During Phase II, the m-CBSMi for Latinas will be fully developed. Then, in partnership with Mary’s Center, the effectiveness of the m-CBSMi to reduce stress among Hispanic women will be examined. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention conditions or to a matched control condition. Secondary measures will assess cultural stressors (acculturative and discrimination), coping (social support and health behaviors), well-being (positive and negative affect, mindfulness), subjective health, and knowledge.
