Engaging Native American Youth and Their Caregivers in Sexual Violence Research: A Case Study Documenting Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned

Abstract

Native Americans (the preferred term of our partners/co-authors) experience high rates of sexual violence, which is rooted in colonization and multiple historical traumas. Sexual violence leads to numerous deleterious outcomes, underscoring the critical need for prevention early in life. Yet, most research to date on sexual violence has not focused on Native American populations, and we know little about the most effective strategies to recruit and retain Native American individuals in sexual violence prevention research. The purpose of the current study, grounded in principles of participatory action research, is to describe strategies that were used to recruit (e.g., traditional feeds, door knocking) and retain (e.g., monetary incentives, ongoing community engagement) Native American youth for a study that sought to assess, via surveys and qualitative interviews, the impacts of a youth-led sexual violence prevention initiative in a small city in the Great Plains. We also collected qualitative data from Native American caregivers regarding their perceptions of research. Overall, 67.9% ( n = 545) of eligible Native American youth completed the survey, and school and door knocking were most effective methods of recruitment/enrollment followed by community and school events and texting. Over the course of 3 years of data collection, there were higher rates of attrition among Native American youth compared to white youth, and several factors (e.g., older age, sexual assault victimization) predicted attrition among Native American youth. Native American caregivers’ responses reflected on reasons it is hard to engage youth and caregivers in research (e.g., lack of time, distrust) as well as strategies to enhance engagement (e.g., personal connection, providing community resources). Throughout the paper, Native American co-authors and project partners reflect on these findings. Implications for future sexual violence prevention research with Native American youth and their caregivers that uses decolonized, participatory action research methodologies are discussed.

Prospective Associations Between Pornography Viewing and Sexual Aggression Among Adolescents

“…The city is proximal to two large land reservations; it is not uncommon for Native youth to move from the reservations to the city and vice versa, resulting in a highly transient community. For an in-depth review of conducting with Native American youth, we refer readers to Edwards, Herrington, et al (2022).…”

“…For an in‐depth review of conducting with Native American youth, we refer readers to Edwards, Herrington, et al. (2022).…”

Adverse childhood experiences, individual‐level risk and protective factors, and recent drug use in a community sample of Nigerian women

“…This resulted in the elimination of six potential participants. Door‐knocking (Edwards et al., 2022; Qadir et al., 2005; Zhou et al., 2015) was used to recruit participants. Potential participants were approached in their homes.…”

What Is Not in the Methods Section: Challenges, Successes, and Lessons Learned From Conducting School-Based Interpersonal Violence Prevention Research

“…Recent nationally representative data collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented that 9.7% of high school students experienced sexual assault victimization, 8.0% experienced physical teen dating violence victimization, 19.0% were bullied on school property, and 23.6% were in a physical fight (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Research also demonstrates that elementary and middle school students experience alarmingly high rates of IV victimization and perpetration (e.g., bullying, dating violence) (Edwards et al, 2022; Lebrun-Harris et al, 2019; Siller et al, 2022). These experiences of IV in earlier developmental periods are robust predictors of subsequent experiences of IV in later developmental periods among youth (Edwards et al, 2022; Espelage et al, 2012, 2014, 2022; Siller et al, 2022; Taylor & Mumford, 2016).…”

“…Research also demonstrates that elementary and middle school students experience alarmingly high rates of IV victimization and perpetration (e.g., bullying, dating violence) (Edwards et al, 2022; Lebrun-Harris et al, 2019; Siller et al, 2022). These experiences of IV in earlier developmental periods are robust predictors of subsequent experiences of IV in later developmental periods among youth (Edwards et al, 2022; Espelage et al, 2012, 2014, 2022; Siller et al, 2022; Taylor & Mumford, 2016). In addition to documenting the high rates of IV among U.S. youth, research highlights myriad short- and long-term deleterious outcomes (e.g., psychological, physical, social, academic) associated with IV victimization, which underscores the critical need for primary prevention efforts across developmental periods from childhood through adolescence (Edwards, 2015; Edwards & Banyard, 2020; Exner-Cortens et al, 2013; Gruber & Fineran, 2015).…”