This project aims to enhance AN university students' behavioral health by supporting their cultural identity development. While the connection between cultural identity and behavioral health is becoming clearer, comparably less research has explored methods of enhancing identity development. Consequently, the investigators will pilot a cultural identity development program for AN students at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). This intervention is based on extant scientific literature, local findings from focus group with AN students, and traditional wisdom from AN Elders. The eight-week Elder-facilitated program incorporates storytelling, experiential learning, connection, exploration, and sharing of identity, cultural strengths, life paths, and rootedness in who they are in order to remain grounded when they face changes and challenges. Approximately 40 to 50 AN university students will be recruited for the intervention. Participants will be randomized, with half the participants receiving the intervention in the Fall 2020 semester and half the students receiving the intervention in the Spring 2021 semester. We hypothesize that engaging in this intervention will strengthen AN students' cultural identities, strengths, and sense of community; improve their behavioral health, as evidenced in higher self-reported wellbeing, and lower substance use, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation symptoms; and support their academic persistence and achievement. Outcomes will be tested via mixed design analyses of covariance. Moreover, program feasibility will be examined through a process evaluation, which will entail thematic analyses of six focus groups with program participants (n=40-50) and with the Elders who facilitated the program (n=5).
Age range
18 Years – 100 Years
Sex
ALL
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Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity at Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity Immediately Following Intervention
Timeframe: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity at 6-Month Follow-Up
Timeframe: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths at Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths Immediately Following Intervention
Timeframe: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths at 6-Month Follow-Up
Timeframe: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University at Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University Immediately Following Intervention
Timeframe: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University at 6-Month Follow-Up
Timeframe: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Wellbeing at Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Wellbeing Immediately Following Intervention
Timeframe: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Wellbeing at 6-Month Follow-Up
Timeframe: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Anxiety Symptoms at Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Anxiety Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention
Timeframe: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Anxiety Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up
Timeframe: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Depression Symptoms at Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Depression Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention
Timeframe: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Depression Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up
Timeframe: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Suicidality Symptoms at Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Suicidality Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention
Timeframe: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Suicidality Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up
Timeframe: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Substance Use at Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Substance Use Immediately Following Intervention
Timeframe: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Substance Use at 6-Month Follow-Up
Timeframe: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention