This project investigates the understudied phase of “Established Adulthood” (ages 30-45), recognizing the competing demands faced by individuals in terms of career, relationships, and childcare responsibilities, with a particular focus on mothers. With cardiovascular disease (CVD) emerging as the leading cause of death among US women– especially within this age group–and alarming trends in heart attack hospitalizations, the study sheds light on significant social disparities in CVD risk factors. By examining the influence of neighborhood-level socioeconomic conditions and racial/ethnic composition on cardiovascular health, and whether those influences vary by urban/rural settings, the project aims to uncover variations across diverse populations. With an extensive dataset comprising over 1.5 million women in Texas over 13 years, this research enhances our understanding of CVD risk during Established Adulthood and lays the foundation for future investigations into underlying mechanisms.
