Date of Conferral

7-21-2025

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Brieah Hudson

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease plays a significant role in the number of death and disabilities around the world. While there have been marginal gains in positive health outcomes for women who suffer from cardiovascular disease, African American women continue to fall behind compared to their White counterparts. There is a comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and depression in older African American women. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how the comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and depression uniquely present in young African American women, how these two diseases influence cardiovascular health protective factors, and how components of the social cognitive theory contribute to their cardiovascular health outcomes. Components of the social cognitive theory served as the conceptual framework for this study. Using a hermeneutic phenomenology approach, data was gathered through individual interviews and analyzed using Otter software to identify themes aligned under the identified components of the social cognitive theory. The sample size was 15 and the inclusion criteria was African American women, ages 18-42, who have a cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular disease risk factor, and a diagnosis of depression. Key patterns included emotional responses, environmental barriers, healthcare communication gaps, and personal health behaviors. Findings indicated the intertwined nature of mental and physical health, emphasizing the need for integrated care approaches, community resource enhancement, generational influences acknowledgement, and a need for improved patient education. Findings emphasize the importance of focusing on improving medical communication for African American millennial women through culturally competent approaches, which could improve the trajectory of disease progression at an earlier age.

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