Mobile Stress Management for African American Men with Hypertension
African American men experience the highest rates of hypertension in the United States and face greater challenges in blood pressure control. This health disparity is critical, as elevated blood pressure is the primary modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Stress, including the distinct form of stress that arises from racial discrimination, plays a significant role in this disparity. African American men report more stress and have fewer resources to manage it, leading to heightened allostatic load and unhealthy coping mechanisms. The goal of this project is to develop Relax & Rise, a mobile cognitive behavioral stress management intervention specifically designed for African American men to manage racial and nonracial sources of stress and reduce hypertension disparities. Using proven cognitive behavioral techniques, the intervention delivers educational and supportive text messages, along with an interactive video library. Educational texts enhance knowledge and skills for stress management and hypertension control. Supportive texts promote gender and ethnic pride. The video library offers training in stress management and relaxation techniques. All materials are easily accessible via embedded links in text messages. Users can customize their experience based on personal needs, making the intervention both accessible and relevant.