A culturally responsive mindfulness mobile health app increased self-compassion, mindfulness use, and self-efficacy with mindfulness among African American adults. In a 12-week randomized controlled trial with 170 Black/African American participants, those using the app reported more self-compassion, greater mindfulness use, and higher self-efficacy for mindfulness compared to a wait-list control group. However, no significant differences were found for stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, or resilience. Participants rated the app highly for satisfaction and relevance. The findings indicate the app supports health-promoting behaviors like mindfulness in this population.
A culturally adapted virtual mindfulness program, Mindfulness for African Americans Postpartum (MAAP), is being tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial with African American women within 12 months of giving birth. The intervention adapts Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction to include spirituality, interdependence, self-empowerment, and storytelling, and is delivered via Zoom by a certified instructor. The primary aim is to reduce psycho-behavioral symptoms such as perceived stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, poor sleep, posttraumatic stress, and fatigue, and to improve mother-infant bonding. A secondary aim explores effects on proinflammatory cytokines and oxytocin. The protocol addresses time constraints and parenting challenges to make mindfulness more accessible for this higher-risk population.