Jocelyn Stanfield, MA, ISDP 2025 Best Trainee Poster Award Winner for Human Research

P1.43 DOUBLE BURDEN: HOW GENDERED RACISM IMPACTS CHRONIC HYPERTENSION FOR PREGNANT BLACK WOMEN

Jocelyn Stanfield1, Elizabeth Corwin2, Patricia A. Brennan1, Anne L. Dunlop3

1 Emory University, Atlanta, USA. 2 Columbia School of Nursing, New York, USA. 3 Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelyn-stanfield-ma-8bb408157/

Advisor: Patricia Brennan, Ph.D.
Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Psychology
Emory University
Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences
Abstract Body
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Individuals with HDP face heightened long-term cardiovascular risk, even after controlling for traditional risk factors. Notably, Black women experience disproportionately higher rates of HDP. While some research suggests that racism may contribute to these disparities, findings remain mixed. Critically, no studies to date have examined these associations through an intersectional lens that considers how experiences of gendered racism – discrimination arising from the combined effects of being both Black and female – might influence HDP. To address this gap, the current study explored the link between gendered racism and HDP among pregnant Black women. 608 participants reported their experiences of gendered racism on a questionnaire designed to capture the unique stressors tied to both racial and gender identity within this population. HDP diagnoses were ascertained via medical record abstraction. Linear regressions revealed that while gendered racism was not significantly related to gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or a composite measure of HDP, it was significantly associated with chronic hypertension. That is, greater experiences of workplace gendered racism (β= 0.11, p= 0.005) and more frequent exposure to racist rhetoric (β= 0.10, p= 0.014) were linked to higher rates of chronic hypertension. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating social inequities when assessing risk for adverse prenatal health conditions. Future research should clarify the mechanisms through which racial stress impacts cardiovascular health to better address its effects on maternal well-being and subsequent child development.