Frontiers in Public Health
October 21, 2026
Jeffrey Proulx, Chase M. Bryer, Sherente Harris et al.
Introduction Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island have long promoted wellness through language, ceremony, storytelling, movement, community connection, and relationships with the natural world. These cultural practices may serve as important pathways for healing and health promotion. At the same time, Indigenous communities experience disproportionate rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD),...
Clinical Social Work Journal
June 16, 2026
Chase M. Bryer, Marinna C Okawa, Sherente Harris et al.
IndigenousMIND-crafts is a culturally grounded, intergenerational mindfulness intervention designed for group therapy settings in Native American communities. Piloted with a Northeastern tribal nation, the program paired Elders and youth in weekend workshops that integrated mindfulness practices with traditional crafts such as corn husk dolls and finger weaving. Rooted in the IndigenousMIND...
Circulation
March 24, 2026
Fan Wu, LaPrincess Brewer, Vinicius Vieira Neves et al.
Background: Mindfulness-based interventions may improve cardiovascular health (CVH) by supporting behavioral change across multiple risk factors. This study evaluated the impact of Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP), a mindfulness program targeting hypertension-related behaviors ( Image 1 ), on CVH using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 framework. Methods:...
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
March 2, 2026
Caitlin Elsaesser, Jeffrey Proulx, Maritza Vasquez Reyes et al.
Youth living in marginalized neighborhoods and the adults who support them experience a burden of high stress, including exposure to firearm violence, as a result of targeted structural violence. Multigenerational interventions that foster well-being are vital given the potential for caring adults to mitigate the effects of violence on youth. Guided by a trauma-informed, community-based...
Mindfulness
February 25, 2026
Jeffrey Proulx, Chelsea Cooley, Sojas Wagle et al.
Objectives: This study describes the collaborative design and implementation of the Indigenous MIND (IM) program, a culturally adapted mindfulness intervention developed in partnership with Indigenous communities in the USA. The aim was to explore the program's acceptability and cultural resonance and to document the processes by which IM evolved in each of our partner communities and explore...
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
2026
Caitlin Elsaesser, Doris F Chang, Jeffrey Proulx et al.
As global crises deepen, there is growing recognition that social transformation requires not only structural change but also a shift in consciousness toward interconnection and collective care. Mindfulness-especially as rooted in cultural, spiritual, and justice-based traditions-offers a powerful pathway for both personal and societal transformation. In this introductory article to the special...
Journal of the American Heart Association
May 23, 2023
Eric B Loucks, Zev Schuman-Olivier, Frances B Saadeh et al.
Background Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Despite availability of effective lifestyle and medication treatments, blood pressure (BP) is poorly controlled in the United States. Mindfulness training may offer a novel approach to improve BP control. The objective was to evaluate the effects of Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) versus enhanced...
medRxiv
May 15, 2023
Eric B Loucks, Ian M Kronish, Frances B Saadeh et al.
preprint
Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet lowers blood pressure (BP). However, adherence is typically low. Mindfulness training adapted to improving health behaviors that lower BP could improve DASH adherence, in part through improved interoceptive awareness relevant to dietary consumption. The primary objective of the MB-BP...
Global Advances in Health and Medicine
2022
Eric B Loucks, Rebecca S. Crane, Menka A Sanghvi et al.
This paper provides a framework for understanding why, when and how to adapt mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) to specific populations and contexts, based on research that developed and adapted multiple MBPs. In doing so, we hope to support teachers, researchers and innovators who are considering adapting an MBP to ensure that changes made are necessary, acceptable, effective, cost-effective,...
Mindfulness
August 16, 2017
Jeffrey Proulx, Raina Croff, Barry Oken et al.
As many health disparities in American minority communities (AMCs) are stress-related, there has been an increased interest in the development of mindfulness programs as potential stress reduction measures in these communities. However, the bulk of the extant literature on mindfulness research and mindfulness interventions is based upon experiences with the larger White community. The intent of...