Research

Our goal is to better understand effect of psychological, environmental, and genetic factors on blood pressure in Black/African American women and their young children.

Mission

The research team is committed to achieving these objectives for the Intergenerational Blood Pressure Study:
 
  • First, our study will investigate the combined association of genomic and psychological environmental effects on predicting high blood pressure and thus add to the body of knowledge of gene-environment interactions for hypertension among African American mothers and children.
  • Second, our findings will also shed light on epigenetic and psychological environmental factors affecting blood pressure in this population.
  • Finally, our research will expand our understanding of how parenting stress and parenting style impact parents and children’s blood pressure thus providing critical insights into reducing hypertension health disparities among African American mothers and children.

Study Summary

This five-year study (09/01/2014 – 06/30/2019), funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institutes of Health (NIH) to New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing and Yale School of Medicine seeks to explain how psychological and genetic factors work independently and together to affect blood pressure in African American women and their 3-5 year old children.

In this study we shall examine the role of both genes and stress for hypertension risk among participants, knowing that more African American adults than Caucasians or Hispanics are diagnosed with hypertension, at younger ages and in more severe forms.

Who are we are looking for?
  • 250 Black/African American children aged 3 through 5 years and their biological mothers.
  • Mothers must be 21 years of age or older and self-identify as Black/African American.
What will families do as part of the study?
  • Mothers will complete 4 computer-based interviews with questions about:  parenting-related behaviors, physical & social-emotional well-being, experiences of racial discrimination, and mental health status.
  • Provide DNA samples (saliva), blood pressure readings, and height and weight measurements.
  • Interviews will take approximately 2.5 hours. 
  • Data will be collected from mother and child every 6 months for 2 years at a location of the mother’s choice.
Will families be compensated for their time?
  • Parents will be compensated for their time with a $25 Visa gift card for each completed interview, for a total of $100. 
  • Children will receive a book at each interview.

Funding Source

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Award #R01NR013520