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).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
44
8-week cultural identity development program led by Alaska Native Elders
University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity at Baseline
Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (Roberts et al., 1999), a 12-item self-report measure developed for diverse groups that has been validated with Native people (e.g., Moran et al., 1999) to measure cultural identity. Range = 6-30, higher scores indicate greater identification with cultural identity
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity Immediately Following Intervention
Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (Roberts et al., 1999), a 12-item self-report measure developed for diverse groups that has been validated with Native people (e.g., Moran et al., 1999) to measure cultural identity. Range = 6-30, higher scores indicate greater identification with cultural identity
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity at 6-Month Follow-Up
Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (Roberts et al., 1999), a 12-item self-report measure developed for diverse groups that has been validated with Native people (e.g., Moran et al., 1999) to measure cultural identity. Range = 6-30, higher scores indicate greater identification with cultural identity
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths at Baseline
Native Cultural Health Assessment Tool (White Shield, 2013), a 10-item self-report measure of cultural strengths in given time period (past month for project) that was developed for Native people to measure cultural strengths. Range = 10-50, higher scores indicate greater identification with cultural strengths.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths Immediately Following Intervention
Native Cultural Health Assessment Tool (White Shield, 2013), a 10-item self-report measure of cultural strengths in given time period (past month for project) that was developed for Native people to measure cultural strengths. Range = 10-50, higher scores indicate greater identification with cultural strengths.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths at 6-Month Follow-Up
Native Cultural Health Assessment Tool (White Shield, 2013), a 10-item self-report measure of cultural strengths in given time period (past month for project) that was developed for Native people to measure cultural strengths. Range = 10-50, higher scores indicate greater identification with cultural strengths.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University at Baseline
Sense of Community Index, Second Edition (Chavis et al., 2008), a 24-item self-report measure of membership in, shared emotional connection with, fulfillment of needs from, and mutual influence on a given community (e.g., Alaska Native community at UAA) that has been used with diverse populations. Range = 0-72, higher scores indicate greater sense of community.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University Immediately Following Intervention
Sense of Community Index, Second Edition (Chavis et al., 2008), a 24-item self-report measure of membership in, shared emotional connection with, fulfillment of needs from, and mutual influence on a given community (e.g., Alaska Native community at UAA) that has been used with diverse populations. Range = 0-72, higher scores indicate greater sense of community.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University at 6-Month Follow-Up
Sense of Community Index, Second Edition (Chavis et al., 2008), a 24-item self-report measure of membership in, shared emotional connection with, fulfillment of needs from, and mutual influence on a given community (e.g., Alaska Native community at UAA) that has been used with diverse populations. Range = 0-72, higher scores indicate greater sense of community.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Wellbeing at Baseline
Wellbeing scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate greater wellbeing.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Wellbeing Immediately Following Intervention
Wellbeing scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate greater wellbeing.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Wellbeing at 6-Month Follow-Up
Wellbeing scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate greater wellbeing.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Anxiety Symptoms at Baseline
Anxiety scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more anxiety.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Anxiety Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention
Anxiety scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more anxiety.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Anxiety Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up
Anxiety scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more anxiety.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Depression Symptoms at Baseline
Depression scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more depression.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Depression Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention
Depression scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more depression.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Depression Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up
Depression scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more depression.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Suicidality Symptoms at Baseline
Suicidality scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more suicidality.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Suicidality Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention
Suicidality scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more suicidality.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Suicidality Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up
Suicidality scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit \& Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more suicidality.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Degree of Substance Use at Baseline
Items from the Monitoring the Future Survey (U. Michigan), a 9-item self-report measure of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens, and opioid use in past 30 days. Higher scores indicate greater substance use.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Degree of Substance Use Immediately Following Intervention
Items from the Monitoring the Future Survey (U. Michigan), a 9-item self-report measure of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens, and opioid use in past 30 days. Higher scores indicate greater substance use.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Substance Use at 6-Month Follow-Up
Items from the Monitoring the Future Survey (U. Michigan), a 9-item self-report measure of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens, and opioid use in past 30 days. Higher scores indicate greater substance use.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Academic Achievement at Baseline
Grade point average (GPA) for a given semester.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre-Intervention
Change in Baseline Academic Achievement Immediately Following Intervention
Grade point average (GPA) for a given semester.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Change in Post-Intervention Academic Achievement at 1-Year Follow-Up
Grade point average (GPA) for a given semester.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 12 Months After Intervention
Rate of Students Maintaining University Enrollment Semester of Intervention
Enrollment for a given semester.
Time frame: Immediately After Intervention
Rate of Students Maintaining University Enrollment Semester after Intervention
Enrollment for a given semester.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention
Rate of Students Maintaining University Enrollment One Year Post-Intervention
Enrollment for a given semester.
Time frame: Follow-Up, Approximately 12 Months After Intervention
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