A Pilot Evaluation of Culture Camps to Increase Alaska Native Youth Wellness

Abstract

Suicide is a significant health disparity among Alaska Native youth, which is linked to cultural disruptions brought about by colonialism and historical trauma. Many Indigenous suicide prevention efforts center on revitalizing and connecting youth to their culture to promote mental health and resilience. A common cultural approach to improve psychosocial outcomes is youth culture camps, but there has been little evaluation research to test this association. Here, we conduct a pilot evaluation of a 5-day culture camp developed in two remote regions of Alaska. The camps bring together Alaska Native youth from villages in these regions to take part in subsistence activities, develop new relationships, develop life skills, and learn traditional knowledge and values. This pilot evaluation of the culture camps uses a quantitative pre/post design to examine the outcomes of self-esteem, emotional states, belongingness, mattering to others, and coping skills among participants. Results indicate that culture camps can significantly increase positive mood, feelings of belongingness, and perceived coping of participants. Culture camps are a common suicide prevention effort in Indigenous circumpolar communities, and although limited in scope and design, this pilot evaluation offers some evidence to support culture camps as a health promotion intervention that can reduce suicide risk.

An Introduction, Review, and Conceptual Analysis of Mattering as an Essential Construct and an Essential Way of Life

“…Fortunately, developing a sense of mattering can be highly protective in reducing suicidal tendencies (for a discussion, see Milner et al, 2016) and research is now beginning to explore the role of mattering in suicide prevention applications (see Barnett et al, 2020). One impetus for such efforts is a comprehensive survey of over 30,000 adolescents that found that perceived mattering in one's community is a key protective asset that mitigates planning for suicide (see Murphey et al, 2004).…”

Understanding Historical Trauma for the Holistic Care of Indigenous Populations: A Scoping Review

“…In a study to reduce obesity, Kelley and Lowe (2018) saw significantly better outcomes in measures of cultural identity, perceived stress, obesity knowledge, physical activity, and healthy eating behavior in American Indian youth who participated in their after-school, culture-based health education program with CTCs than a standard health education program. Culturalspecific interventions generally showed effectiveness, especially with the youth (Barnett et al, 2020;Boyd-Ball et al, 2006;Goodkind et al, 2010). Some studies were program evaluations conducted to maximize the potential for providing Indigenous-centered care.…”

Indigenous Youth and Resilience in Canada and the USA: a Scoping Review

“…The studies selected for inclusion from the literature had a variety of different methods used to collect data. There were 26 that followed a primarily qualitative research design (Bruner et al, 2019 ; Fraser et al, 2015 ; Freeman, 2017 ; Goodkind et al, 2012 ; Hatala et al, 2017 , 2019 , 2020 ; Isaacson, 2018 ; Kral et al, 2014 ; Krieg, 2016 ; McMahon et al, 2013 ; Morton et al, 2020 ; Njeze et al, 2020 ; Ranahan & Yuen, 2017 ; Rasmus et al, 2014 ; Sasakamoose et al, 2016 ; Strickland & Cooper, 2011 ; Trout et al, 2018 ; Ulturgasheva et al, 2014 ; Ungar et al, 2008 ; Victor et al, 2016 ; Wexler, 2014 ; Wexler et al, 2013 , 2014 , 2016 ; Wood et al, 2018 ); 8 followed a quantitative design (Ames et al, 2015 ; Baldwin et al, 2011 ; Barnett et al, 2020 ; Fitzgerald et al 2017 ; Gray et al, 2016 ; Kenyon & Carter, 2011 ; Mohatt et al 2011 ; Snowshoe et al, 2017 ); and 10 were mixed methods studies (Clark et al, 2013 ; Gray et al, 2019 ; Harder et al, 2015 ; Ruttan et al, 2008 ; Pertucka et al, 2016 ; Ritchie et al, 2015 ; Sam et al, 2015 ; Stumblingbear-Riddle, 2012 ; Tiessen et al, 2009 ; Yeh et al, 2015 ). Community-consulted focus groups that used open-ended, semi-structured interviews were the most commonly used in qualitative and mixed-methods studies.…”

“…Quantitative studies focused primarily on the outcomes of mental health (particularly depressive symptoms, suicidal ideations), and protective factors measured at a single time point (Ames et al, 2015 ; Barnett et al, 2020 ; Gray et al, 2016 , 2019 ; Kenyon & Carter, 2011 ). Mental health was measured using validated questionnaires, primarily Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (Ames et al, 2015 ; Baldwin et al, 2011 ), WHO Survey of Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children (Ames et al, 2015 ), General-Self Scale of the March Self-Description Questionnaire (Ames et al, 2015 ), General Mattering Scale (Barnett et al, 2020 ), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Barnett et al, 2020 ; Kenyon & Carter, 2011 ; Tiessen et al, 2009 ). In terms of promotive or protective factors, many studies used the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (Barnett et al, 2020 ; Gray et al, 2016 ; Harder et al, 2015 ; Tiessen et al, 2009 ).…”

“…Mental health was measured using validated questionnaires, primarily Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (Ames et al, 2015 ; Baldwin et al, 2011 ), WHO Survey of Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children (Ames et al, 2015 ), General-Self Scale of the March Self-Description Questionnaire (Ames et al, 2015 ), General Mattering Scale (Barnett et al, 2020 ), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Barnett et al, 2020 ; Kenyon & Carter, 2011 ; Tiessen et al, 2009 ). In terms of promotive or protective factors, many studies used the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (Barnett et al, 2020 ; Gray et al, 2016 ; Harder et al, 2015 ; Tiessen et al, 2009 ). Other questionnaires used to measure resilience and sense of community included the Child and Youth Resilience Measure, Child Version [CYRM-28; Isaacson, 2018 ], the Awareness of Connectedness Scale (ACS; Mohatt et al, 2011 ), Reasons for Life (RFL; Mohatt et al, 2011 ), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale for Children (Snowshoe et al, 2017 ).…”