Exploring how stress affects pregnancy outcomes in Black women
Official title: Understanding the contributions of stress reactivity to racial disparities in adverse placental and pregnancy outcomes
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11038042 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how stress affects pregnancy health, especially for non-Hispanic Black women, to understand why they might face more challenges during pregnancy compared to non-Hispanic White women, and it uses real-time measurements to see how stress impacts their bodies and minds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | April 19, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $635,918 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL168409-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11038042 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant Black women who may experience high levels of stress due to various life circumstances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those who do not identify as Black may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of stress reactivity in contributing to higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes among non-Hispanic Black women compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. It focuses on understanding how chronic exposure to stressors throughout life, including racial and gender discrimination, impacts physiological and psychological responses during pregnancy. The study employs advanced methods such as ecological momentary assessments and intensive measurements of heart rate variability, blood pressure, and cortisol levels to capture how these women respond to stress in real-time. By examining these factors, the research aims to uncover the links between stress and pregnancy health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes in Black women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that stress reactivity is linked to adverse health outcomes, but this specific focus on pregnancy outcomes in Black women is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kershaw, Kiarri N — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kershaw, Kiarri N
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.