Concept Analysis of Diné Hózhó

Abstract

American Indian Alaska Native people of the United States face challenges in attaining physical, mental, spiritual, and environmental health. This article presents a concept analysis of Diné Hózhó, a complex and misunderstood wellness concept the Diné (Navajo) strive to attain. Findings from a literature review are presented to explore anthropological definitions and uses of the concept Hózhó. The method of concept analysis of Walker and Avant is utilized, model cases are presented. Recommendations for application in nursing practice are presented.

“We’re Still in a Struggle”

“…The system itself (family or community) is responsible for achieving balance in response to changing contexts” (p. 71). Highlighting this perspective elucidates the centrality of resilience in Diné oral teachings and ceremonies, in which well-being is conceptualized as the recognition that people are always exposed to both negative and positive experiences, emotions and contexts, and thus resilience consists of the ability to maintain balance not only within the person but also within family and community systems (Kahn-John, 2010). Thus, as Kirmayer and colleagues (2009) pointed out, resilience theory is a potential area where western and indigenous knowledge, values, and perspectives overlap, and is essential when attempting to understand and address the social suffering that exists in American Indian communities.…”

“…Although there is an important and developing literature on American Indians and historical trauma, there has been very little research published specifically related to Diné/Navajo people and historical trauma (however, see Duran, Duran, Woodis, & Woodis, 2008, and Kahn-John, 2010, for related discussion). The historian Jennifer Nez Denetdale (2007) wrote about her search to uncover narratives about Hastiin Ch’ilhajiiní (commonly known as Manuelito), the 19th-Century Diné leader, and his wife Juanita, of whom she is a maternal descendent: For me, the consequences of colonialism are the realities of my life, as they are for my parents and grandparents.…”

Shaping a Stories of Resilience Model from Urban American Indian Elders' Narratives of Historical Trauma and Resilience

“…The two university-based AI researchers who had recruited participants conducted a consensus group with 15 AI elders to discuss and finalize interview questions; the group considered draft questions developed using existing literature (Duran, 2006; Goodkind et al, 2012; Kahn-John, 2010). The discussion was audio recorded and led to the revision of the questions.…”

Living in Health, Harmony, and Beauty: The Diné (Navajo) Hózhó Wellness Philosophy

“…Hózhó becomes disrupted as a result of irresponsible thoughts, speech, or behavior, resulting in disharmony, or Hóchxó, which is manifested as chaos, ignorance, evil, sadness, grief, disharmony, imbalance—all that is contra to Hózhó. 5 , 8 …”

“…The 6 conceptually distinct attributes of Hózhó—spirituality, respect, reciprocity, discipline, thinking, and relationships—are necessary elements to whole-person and whole-systems wellbeing described as the Diné wellness ideal. 8 Spirituality represents expectation to respect and honor spirit through prayer, paying homage to spirit, ritual, ceremony, and spiritual/religious practice. Respect is the act of maintaining loyal reverence by offering respect to self, others, nature, spirit, animals, the Creator, and the environment.…”