3 - (SYM 77) A Mixed-methods Exploration into the Psychophysiological Link Between Racial Trauma Experiences and Health Outcomes Among Black Women of Reproductive Age

Research continuously demonstrate that experiences of racism is highly associated with PTSD symptoms. Yet, racism is still often excluded from conceptualizations of traumatic stressors for minoritized populations. Across the lifespan, and particularly during pregnancy/postpartum when physical and emotional demands intensify, multi-level forms of racial trauma compound stress to impact health for Black women. No known studies have utilized qualitative and psychophysiological methods to assess Black women’s viewpoints on differentially defining racial discrimination, racial trauma, and trauma experiences or how they engage in different coping strategies to heal. Pilot data from two ongoing mixed-method studies are used to (1) examine the utility of mobile skin conductance to examine psychophysiological arousal to both “traditional” trauma and racism-related narrative cues among postpartum Black women (n =27); (2) utilize qualitative and fetal heart rate (fhr) data to assess how racial trauma can impact Black pregnant women (n = 60 qualitative; 25 fhr). In the first study, participants completed the Standard Trauma Interview (STI), and the UConn Racial/Ethnic Stress & Trauma Scale (UnRESTS). Using a mobile device (eSense), we assessed skin conductance (SC) reactivity to the STI and UnRESTS and our preliminary results show that SCL was significantly higher during the STI and UnRESTS compared to baseline (p < .001s), and individuals with probable PTSD scores  and high levels of race-related stress demonstrated a significantly greater SC response than individuals without PTSD or low levels of race-related stress (p < .02, p < .01, respectively). In the second study participants completed the UnRESTS, measures of resistance/coping, and during their third pregnancy trimester completed seven days of fhr monitoring at home. Thematic analysis revealed that police violence/aggression as well as healthcare/obstetric racism were frequently reported, often compounded by further life-span experiences of racism and concerns for the safety of themselves, their unborn child, and members of their community. Social support and racial identity were linked with lower PTSD symptoms from racial trauma. The preliminary link between experiences of racism-related stress, coping strategies, and stress to the fetus through fhr monitoring will be discussed.