College of Psychology, CQUniversity, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
Health Promot J Austr. 2024 Jul;35(3):784-793. doi: 10.1002/hpja.805. Epub 2023 Oct 9.
Australian Indigenous youth are at high risk of developing mental health problems. Historical determinants and socioeconomic disadvantage continue to impact their social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and sense of identity. Previous literature suggests connecting to culture significantly impacts SEWB in Indigenous youth. Given the diversity of Indigenous culture, collaboration and consultation with specific cultural groups is required to develop appropriate and relevant psychological treatments for SEWB. The Warrior Within Program was developed to improve SEWB in Indigenous youth by assisting them to better understand their identity through participation in group-based cultural activities. This research aimed to understand Central Queensland Indigenous Development staff perspectives around (1) the process of developing the program and (2) how group-based cultural activities contributed to staff perceived improvements in SEWB of program participants.
In this qualitative study, semi-structured individual interviews of 60-90 min were conducted with four Warrior Within Program staff of Central Queensland Indigenous Development. Transcripts were thematically analysed and the subthemes identified were categorised into main themes.
The process of developing the Warrior Within Program, cultural and Indigenous identity, reconnecting and knowledge emerged as the four main themes.
This study makes a unique and important contribution to the Australian Indigenous literature regarding the role and nature of culture in group-based programs and the importance of collaborating with Indigenous groups to increase our understanding of their usefulness and efficacy. This study also helps to bridge the gap between Indigenous ways of knowing in program development and non-Indigenous methods of evaluation. SO WHAT?: Acknowledging Australian Indigenous methods and ways of knowing are essential to the development and delivery of culturally appropriate group problems for addressing the psychological needs of this population. The methods used in this study could be used by others seeking to legitimise cultural ways of knowing.
澳大利亚原住民青年面临着较高的心理健康问题风险。历史决定因素和社会经济劣势持续影响他们的社会和情感福祉（SEWB）和身份认同感。先前的文献表明，与文化的联系对原住民青年的 SEWB 有重大影响。鉴于原住民文化的多样性，需要与特定的文化群体合作与协商，以制定针对 SEWB 的适当和相关的心理治疗方法。“内在战士”（Warrior Within）项目旨在通过帮助原住民青年更好地理解自己的身份，从而改善他们的 SEWB，其方法是让他们参与基于群体的文化活动。本研究旨在了解中央昆士兰原住民发展机构工作人员对以下两个方面的看法：（1）制定该项目的过程，以及（2）基于群体的文化活动如何有助于工作人员认为项目参与者的 SEWB 得到改善。
在这项定性研究中，对中央昆士兰原住民发展机构的四名“内在战士”项目工作人员进行了 60-90 分钟的半结构式个人访谈。对记录的访谈内容进行了主题分析，确定了次级主题，并将其归入主要主题。
“内在战士”项目的制定过程、文化和原住民身份认同、重新建立联系和知识这四个主题突显出来。
这项研究对澳大利亚原住民文献作出了独特且重要的贡献，涉及到文化在基于群体的项目中的作用和性质，以及与原住民群体合作以增进我们对其有用性和功效的理解的重要性。本研究还有助于弥合原住民的知识方法与非原住民的评估方法之间的差距。那么，这有什么意义呢？承认澳大利亚原住民的方法和知识对于制定和提供文化上适当的群体问题解决方案以满足这一人群的心理需求至关重要。本研究中使用的方法可以被其他寻求使原住民的知识合法化的人所采用。
