Pilot Test of a Cultural Intervention to Enhance Alaska Native Students' Behavioral Health
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
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).
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Intervention in Fall 2020 Participants will receive the intervention in Fall 2020 |
Behavioral: Knowing Who You Are (Becoming): Cultural Identity Intervention
8-week cultural identity development program led by Alaska Native Elders
|
| Other: Intervention in Spring 2021 Control in Fall 2020 |
Behavioral: Knowing Who You Are (Becoming): Cultural Identity Intervention
8-week cultural identity development program led by Alaska Native Elders
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-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
- Change in Baseline Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After 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
- Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Identification with Cultural Identity at 6-Month Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After 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
- Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-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.
- Change in Baseline Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After 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.
- Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Identification with Cultural Strengths at 6-Month Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After 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.
- Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-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.
- Change in Baseline Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After 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.
- Change in Post-Intervention Strength of Sense of Community with Alaska Native People at University at 6-Month Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After 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.
- Degree of Wellbeing at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-Intervention]
Wellbeing scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate greater wellbeing.
- Change in Baseline Degree of Wellbeing Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After Intervention]
Wellbeing scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate greater wellbeing.
- Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Wellbeing at 6-Month Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention]
Wellbeing scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate greater wellbeing.
- Degree of Anxiety Symptoms at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-Intervention]
Anxiety scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more anxiety.
- Change in Baseline Degree of Anxiety Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After Intervention]
Anxiety scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more anxiety.
- Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Anxiety Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention]
Anxiety scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more anxiety.
- Degree of Depression Symptoms at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-Intervention]
Depression scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more depression.
- Change in Baseline Degree of Depression Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After Intervention]
Depression scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more depression.
- Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Depression Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention]
Depression scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more depression.
- Degree of Suicidality Symptoms at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-Intervention]
Suicidality scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more suicidality.
- Change in Baseline Degree of Suicidality Symptoms Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After Intervention]
Suicidality scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more suicidality.
- Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Suicidality Symptoms at 6-Month Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention]
Suicidality scale of the Mental Health Inventory (Veit & Ware, 1983). Converted scores range from 0-100, higher scores indicate more suicidality.
- Degree of Substance Use at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-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.
- Change in Baseline Degree of Substance Use Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After 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.
- Change in Post-Intervention Degree of Substance Use at 6-Month Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After 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.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Academic Achievement at Baseline [Baseline, Pre-Intervention]
Grade point average (GPA) for a given semester.
- Change in Baseline Academic Achievement Immediately Following Intervention [Immediately After Intervention]
Grade point average (GPA) for a given semester.
- Change in Post-Intervention Academic Achievement at 1-Year Follow-Up [Follow-Up, Approximately 12 Months After Intervention]
Grade point average (GPA) for a given semester.
- Rate of Students Maintaining University Enrollment Semester of Intervention [Immediately After Intervention]
Enrollment for a given semester.
- Rate of Students Maintaining University Enrollment Semester after Intervention [Follow-Up, Approximately 6 Months After Intervention]
Enrollment for a given semester.
- Rate of Students Maintaining University Enrollment One Year Post-Intervention [Follow-Up, Approximately 12 Months After Intervention]
Enrollment for a given semester.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
self-identify as Alaska Native,
-
are registered as an undergraduate student at UAA,
-
are at least 18 years old,
-
speak English
Exclusion Criteria:
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage | Alaska | United States | 99508 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Alaska Anchorage
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 1210302
- U54GM115371