Grateful Strides Toward Physical Activity and Well-Being for Black Breast Cancer Survivors

This pilot study will assess the feasibility of a gratitude intervention to promote physical activity, and well-being and positively impact biomarkers of health among older African American breast cancer survivors. The intervention will also include a goal-setting component to promote exercise readiness and examine the cultural phenomena of the Superwoman schema among Black women.

In this pilot feasibility study, the overall aims are: Aim 1. Assess the feasibility and acceptability of a gratitude journaling intervention using a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) design over eight weeks. We hypothesize that among the 28 participants 1) at least 80% of the participants will report the intervention to be acceptable, 2) biomarker collection will be completed in at least 80% of the surveys and the retention rate will be 80% in each group, and 3) physical activity, health markers, gratitude, well-being, and distress will improve over time. Aim 2. Describe distributions of outcome variables and effect size for the gratitude journaling intervention on dispositional gratitude, spiritual well-being, psychological distress, exercise readiness, mental and health behaviors in African American/Black women (Superwoman Schema), and inflammatory biomarkers from baseline to post-intervention.