MASALA has found that psychological symptoms are linked to cardiovascular disease risk.
Among men, those who had higher levels of anxiety and depression had thicker walls of their carotid arteries. In women, higher stress level was linked to thicker carotid walls. Thicker carotid arteries can lead to higher risk of stroke.
Discrimination, the perception of unfair treatment or harassment as based on one’s race, may also influence the mental health and well-being of MASALA participants. Those who reported experiencing discrimination had higher levels of depressive symptoms, anger, and anxiety.
Some things that were found to help this anxiety was by actively coping and talking about experiences with others.