Trauma-informed mindfulness support to help American Indian women quit smoking
Official title: Smoking Cessation Intervention for American Indian Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
Funded at Black Hills Ctr/american Indian Health · NIH-11176962 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A culturally grounded program using trauma-informed mindfulness to help American Indian women who have experienced partner violence stop smoking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Black Hills Ctr/american Indian Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rapid City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $473,457 |
| NIH project number | 5S06GM146079-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176962 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult American Indian women who currently smoke cigarettes and have a history of intimate partner violence and who are interested in trying trauma-informed, mindfulness-based support are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not currently smoke, men, or those who are not comfortable with mindfulness or trauma-focused approaches may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You would be offered a smoking-cessation program built around trauma-informed, mindfulness-based skills that respect American Indian cultural strengths. The program is tailored for women who have experienced intimate partner violence and includes group or individual sessions to build awareness of triggers, manage cravings, and replace automatic smoking habits. It emphasizes safety, emotional regulation, and culturally relevant coping strategies and includes follow-up contacts to track progress over time. Participation may involve sharing your experiences, practicing mindfulness exercises, and receiving support to reduce or quit cigarettes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase quit rates and improve emotional well-being for American Indian women affected by partner violence.
How similar studies have gone: Mindfulness and trauma-informed approaches have shown promise for reducing addictive behaviors and improving mental health, but smoking cessation programs specifically for American Indian women with IPV histories are novel.
Where this research is happening
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Black Hills Ctr/american Indian Health
Rapid City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henderson, Patricia Nez — Black Hills Ctr/american Indian Health
- Study coordinator: Henderson, Patricia Nez
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping American Indian women stop smoking after experiencing partner violence
This study is creating a friendly program to help American Indian women who have faced intimate partner violence quit smoking by using mindful techniques that respect their culture and help them manage stress and triggers.
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This project uses a smartphone to track sleep and smoking in lower-income adults trying to quit to find how sleep patterns relate to staying smoke-free.
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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.