Assistant Professor Lakeshia Cousin, PhD, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, is the recipient of an Institutional CTSI Scholar Award funded by the UF Health Cancer Center.
Cousin’s research focuses on reducing morbidity and mortality risk in older African American breast cancer survivors by developing culturally tailored interventions to improve mental and physical outcomes and health behaviors. Through the CTSI Scholar Award, Cousin will develop a pilot study that centers around gratitude journaling as an intervention to improve well-being, exercise readiness and positively impact inflammatory biomarkers in this population. She will also examine the Superwoman Schema, a cultural phenomenon that African American women manifest strength, suppress emotions and care for others over oneself.
“African American women have unique socio-cultural and historical contextual factors that lead to higher stress, obesity and metabolic syndrome,” Cousin said. “As a CTSI Scholar, I hope to provide preliminary data to inform the use of a psychosocial protective intervention for African American breast cancer survivors that will help to promote physical activity and make a positive impact. Receiving this award will allow me to receive mentored research and training to help me succeed as an early-stage investigator. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity.”
Learn more about Cousin’s research.