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Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8570-1135
Date Available
6-1-2028
Year of Publication
2026
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
College
Social Work
Department/School/Program
Social Work
Faculty
Laura Escobar-Ratliff
Faculty
Glenn Means
Abstract
Black women experience disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the role of untreated mental health conditions in shaping this risk remains under-integrated in clinical practice. This project examines the intersection of untreated mental health and cardiovascular risk among Black women through three integrated components: a systematic literature review, a conceptual framework, and a practice application. Findings from the literature review indicate that untreated mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and chronic stress, function as independent and compounding risk factors for CVD through biological, behavioral, and social pathways. These risks are further intensified by structural inequities, including racism, socioeconomic disadvantage, and gendered stress exposure. Building on these findings, the Integrated Intersectional Wellness Framework (IIWF) is introduced to conceptualize the dynamic interaction between sociocultural context, psychological well-being, and physiological processes. The framework highlights how cumulative stress and lived experiences become biologically embedded, contributing to cardiovascular vulnerability. To operationalize this model, the Black Women’s Adult Trauma and Cardiovascular Risk Screener (BWAT-CV) is proposed as a trauma-informed, culturally responsive tool designed to support early identification of psychosocial and physiological risk factors in clinical and community settings. This project identifies a critical gap in current healthcare systems, where mental and cardiovascular health are assessed in isolation. Implications for practice, policy, and research emphasize the need for integrated, prevention-focused, and equity-centered care models. Addressing cardiovascular disparities among Black women requires leadership-driven system redesign that aligns clinical practice with the lived realities and cumulative stress exposures shaping health outcomes.
Archival?
Archival
Recommended Citation
Leggett, Latara, "The Cost of Carrying It All: Untreated Mental Health and Cardiovascular Risk in Black Women" (2026). DSW Capstone Projects. 75.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/csw_grad_reports/75
Included in
Clinical and Medical Social Work Commons, Health Policy Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Welfare Commons, Social Work Commons, Women's Health Commons
