Racialization and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Latinos - An Intersectional Approach

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The goal of this application for the NHLBI K01 Faculty Diversity Mentored Career Development award is to
provide Deshira Wallace, MSPH, PhD, with the essential training to become an independent researcher in
cardiovascular health and health inequities affecting minoritized populations, specifically Black Latinos. Dr.
Wallace puts forth a comprehensive research proposal and career development plan integrating training in and
application of theories of racialization and intersectionality, social epidemiology, cardiovascular health, and
advanced quantitative and qualitative methods. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highly prevalent among
Latinos living in the United States (US). Studies have shown that CVD prevalence varies by Latino subgroup,
and these within-group disparities may be driven by different exposures due to varying identities. For example,
studies have established that within-group CVD disparities exist for Latinos by country of origin, nativity, and
years residing in the US. However, there is limited research on subgroup analysis according to how Latinos are
racialized in the US, despite Latinos simultaneously embodying both a race and ethnicity (intersectionality).
Racialization is the process by which race is understood by and ascribed to an individual. To examine the
racialized experiences of Latinos, the specific aims are to (1) Explore racialization experiences of Black Latinos
in the US; (2) Construct a multi-item racialization variable; and (3) Compare trajectories of cardiovascular risk
scores over time among Latinos to assess differences by racialization. Aim 1 will use in-depth interviews and
focus groups to understand individual and collective beliefs and perceptions of factors influencing how Black
Latino adults experience racialization in the US. Data collection will occur in North Carolina. Aim 2 (factor
analysis) and Aim 3 (mixture models) will use data from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. To complement
the scope of the proposed research study, the proposal includes four career-development and training goals:
(1) Deepen theoretical understanding of intersectionality and racialization and apply them to qualitative and
quantitative research methods; (2) Develop quantitative skills in latent class and mixture modeling analysis of
longitudinal, epidemiological data; (3) Integrate social and biological science approaches to address causal
factors that influence cardiovascular health; and (4) Strengthen scientific writing and grantsmanship skills. The
proposed K01 supports the NHLBI’s focus on investigating factors that account for differences in health among
populations. Findings from the proposed research will impact public health by using an intersectional approach
to provide novel information about experiences of racialization and their impact on cardiovascular health
among Black Latinos to inform tailored prevention and treatment strategies. This project will be carried out at
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which offers exceptional resources and mentoring to train Dr.
Wallace to execute the proposed K01; it also provides resources to augment faculty diversity to successfully
transition as an independent researcher.