Exploring strengths, psychological functioning and youth victimization among American Indians and Alaska Natives in four southern states

• NCJ Number: 308054
• Journal: Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: Online Dated: 2023
• Author(s): Katie Schultz; Elizabeth Taylor; Sherise McKinney; Sherry Hamby
• Date Published: 2023
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

This study examines strengths, psychological functioning, and youth victimization among American Indians and Alaska Natives in four southern states.  

Abstract

Using the resilience portfolio model, the authors investigate the impact of three categories of psychosocial strengths (regulatory, meaning making, and interpersonal) on psychological functioning (subjective well-being and trauma symptoms) among American Indians and Alaska Natives in four southern states, controlling for youth victimization, lifetime adversities, age, and gender. Psychological endurance and sense of purpose showed the most promise for bolstering subjective well-being while poly-strengths (having a diversity of multiple strengths) was most predictive of fewer trauma symptoms. Data were pooled from four studies in the southern U.S. to examine a subsample of American Indian/Alaska Native participants (N = 147; mean age 28.54 years, SD = 16.3). In examining subjective well-being, the full model accounted for 52 % of the variance, with strengths explaining more variance than adversities (45 % vs 6 %). For trauma symptoms, the full model accounted for 28 % of the variance, with strengths and adversities accounting nearly equally for the variance (14 % and 13 %). Building psychosocial strengths offers promising strategies for prevention and intervention in Native nations and communities. Identifying factors that support healthy psychological functioning after experiencing violence or other adversities in youth can lead to better prevention and intervention efforts. This is particularly important among communities with disproportionately high rates of adversity resulting from legacies of social and political injustices, such as American Indian and Alaska Native populations.  (Published Abstract Provided)