Abstract A029: Bridging the burden: A narrative review of mindfulness-based interventions for African American cancer caregivers

Background: African American cancer caregivers (AACCs) disproportionately assume caregiving responsibilities, often serving as sole unpaid caregivers to provide extensive support to their loved one. AACCs face financial strain, unemployment, psychological distress, sleep disturbance, medical mistrust, mental health stigma, and caregiving expectations shaped by family and cultural values. These burdens may adversely affect patient outcomes. AA caregivers frequently report lower perceived caregiving burden compared to other racial groups, which may reflect strengths such as spirituality, family responsibility, and positive reappraisal rather than an absence of distress. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) promote present-moment awareness, emotional regulation, adaptive coping, and self-compassion and have shown promise for improving psychological well-being and quality of life among caregivers. While MBIs might be relevant in addressing challenges by building upon existing cultural strengths, most mindfulness research has been conducted in predominantly White populations. Consequently, AACCs remain markedly underrepresented in the mindfulness literature, limiting understanding of MBIs within this population. Method: This narrative review included qualitative, mixed-methods, and pilot studies of MBIs and caregiver outcomes among AA caregiving populations. Eighteen articles were identified, analyzed and categorized by caregiving context. We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for articles published between 2010 and 2026. Sample search terms included “African American,” “Black,” “minority group,” “racial disparities,” “caregiver,” “cancer,” “mindfulness-based intervention,” and “meditation.” Results: Only one publication specifically examined AACCs. Across dementia caregiving and other chronic illness caregiving contexts, MBIs were consistently reported as feasible, acceptable, and culturally adaptable for AA caregivers. Mindfulness interventions were associated with reductions in depression, anxiety, caregiver burden, and sleep disturbance, while improving coping, family functioning, and quality of life. Several studies reported enhanced family satisfaction and improved social support. Emerging evidence also suggests potential benefits for hypertension self-management and cardiovascular risk reduction. Multiple studies emphasized that spirituality, religious coping, and community support shape mindfulness experiences among AA caregivers and highlighted the need for culturally responsive intervention design. Despite promising findings, intervention studies specific to AACCs were notably absent. Conclusion: The near absence of AACCs in mindfulness research represents a critical gap in behavioral oncology. Existing evidence suggests that culturally responsive MBIs align with key strengths and coping processes observed in AA caregiving communities. Further intervention studies are needed to determine whether these approaches can improve psychosocial outcomes and reduce disparities among AACCs. Citation Format: Brooke Bethune, Ranjita Poudel, Marilyn Horta, Anastasia Murphy, B. Lee Green, Christine Vinci. Bridging the burden: A narrative review of mindfulness-based interventions for African American cancer caregivers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 19th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2026 Oct 18-21; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2026;35(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A029.