Mental Health in Racial & Ethnic Minority Communities
A feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial examining whether a faith-based prayer app can serve racial and ethnic minority adults with culturally responsive mental health support.
Published In
JMIR Formative Research
Laird et al., 2024
Satisfaction rate
Participants
Cultural fit
Study Overview
The Challenge
Racial and ethnic minority communities face disproportionate mental health burdens while having significantly less access to culturally responsive care. Barriers include cost, provider availability, language differences, historical mistrust of healthcare systems, and a shortage of providers who understand the cultural contexts of these communities.
Faith is central to many minority communities, serving as a source of resilience, identity, and social connection. Yet faith-based digital tools have rarely been studied in these populations, leaving a gap between the tools being built and the communities that could benefit most from them.
Methodology
Participants
72 racial & ethnic minority adults
Predominantly Black and African American participants
Study Type
Feasibility & Preliminary Efficacy Trial
Population
Racial & ethnic minority adults
Focus Areas
Feasibility, satisfaction, cultural fit, mental health outcomes
Results
What We Found
The PRAY.COM app demonstrated strong feasibility and was exceptionally well-received among racial and ethnic minority participants. Eighty-five percent of participants — the majority of whom identified as Black and African American — reported high satisfaction with the app. Ninety-two percent said the app fit within their culture and felt relevant to their lived experience.
Black and African American users reported particularly strong improvements in mental health outcomes, even when controlling for how frequently they used the app. This suggests that the content itself resonated deeply with this population, beyond the general benefits of more frequent engagement.
Implications
What This Means
Serving Minoritized Communities
Digital tools like PRAY.COM can reach minority communities that may have limited access to value-aligned mental health support.
Cultural Fit Matters
92% of participants reported that PRAY.COM fit within their cultural world views.
Health Equity Impact
Black and African American participants reported greater perceived benefits, suggesting faith-based apps may help reduce mental health disparities through accessible, culturally-aligned digital tools.
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