Race-related Stress And Effects On Metabolic Health Indicators After A 12-week Exercise Program

BACKGROUND: Existing research underscores the link between psychosocial stress and metabolic indicators. PURPOSE: This study aims to explore the association between race-related stressors and their impact on weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure within a traditionally marginalized and under-resourced community. METHODS: Participants (n = 11) underwent a 12 – week, exercise program at a community center. All participants identified as African American, aged between 35 and 44 years, with at least some reported level of college education. Baseline measurements, including weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and psychosocial assessments (Perceived Stress Scale – PSS, Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions Scale - REMS, and Index of Race Related Stress scale - IRRS), were obtained at baseline and following the exercise program. Spearman correlations were employed for analysis. RESULTS: Baseline correlations revealed significant associations between intra-related measures. There were also associations between two metabolic indicators and a psychosocial stressor (BMI and IRRS individual racism r = -0.785, p ≤ 0.05; waist circumference and IRRS individual racism r = -0.700, p ≤ 0.05). Post-exercise program, correlations between intra-related measures persisted. DBP and IRRS cultural racism, individual racism, and global racism were also associated (r = -0.700, r = -0.733, and r = -0.638, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). MAP also showed similar correlations (MAP and IRRS cultural racism r = -0.616, p ≤ 0.05; MAP and IRRS individual racism r = -0.608, p ≤ 0.05; MAP and IRRS global racism r = -0.620, p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study identified significant correlations primarily within intra-related measures. Correlations between psychosocial stressors and metabolic indicators at times displayed unexpected outcomes. Future research should strive to explore qualitative methods to explore negative correlations between metabolic indicators and psychosocial stressors.