Mackenzie Barnard, Andra Smith, Jennifer Brunet

Post-menopausal women are at an increased risk of cardiovascular events due to the decline in protective estrogen levels. This decline in estrogen is linked to dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. This leads to lower baseline heart rate variability (HRV), indicating a reduced ability to respond to stressors. Stress management strategies are therefore crucial for supporting women’s heart health during this life stage. As well as physical activity (PA), practices employing mindfulness, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), have been used to reduce stress and improve HRV in various populations suggesting PA and MBSR may improve the psychological and physiological functioning relative to stress of post-menopausal women. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a two-arm trial featuring an 8-week online, self-directed MBSR program coupled with a PA toolkit and weekly check-ins. The secondary aim is to provide a proof-of-concept to identify whether we can detect changes in psychological functioning and HRV metrics both at rest and during stress task execution. Participants will be randomized to the intervention or waitlist arm. Enrollment, allocation, intervention adherence, and data completeness rates will be tracked. Outcomes (autonomic function, perceived stress, affect, HRV metrics) will be assessed pre- and post-intervention via online self-report and wearable technology (Hexoskin shirts). Analyses will involve descriptive statistics and visual analysis of trends. Results will inform whether future research may employ this online, self-directed MBSR intervention coupled with PA and test its effects on psychological functioning and HRV metrics in women post-menopause.