Flourishing

Abstract

Positive mental health (PMH) is an important construct for understanding the full continuum of mental health. Some socially disadvantaged populations experience a paradoxically high level of PMH despite negative social experiences including discrimination. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and culturally salient correlates of PMH among a cross-sectional sample of 218 American Indian adults living with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although 17.1 percent of individuals in this sample met Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) criteria for depression, 51.5 percent were in flourishing PMH. Perceived discrimination was negatively associated with PMH, and participation in traditional cultural activities was positively associated with PMH. Traditional cultural activities did not appear to buffer the impact of discrimination on PMH. This study contributes to strengths-based research with American Indian communities, furthers our understanding of correlates of PMH, and documents comparatively high rates of flourishing mental health in our sample relative to previously published studies with diverse samples.

Language as a Facilitator of Cultural Connection

“…For example, participation in traditional spiritual activities has been found to be associated with a lower likelihood of past-year alcohol abuse (Whitbeck et al 2004), and low enculturation has been found to be a strong predictor of alcohol problems (Currie et al 2011). Culture has been shown to be connected to positive mental health (Kading et al 2015), positive psychological well-being (Moran et al 1999), resiliency factors among adolescents such as positive attitude toward schools and reaching academic goals (LaFromboise et al 2006), greater happiness, and the use of religion or spirituality (versus substances) to cope with stress (Wolsko et al 2007). Health benefits of culture and spirituality have always been understood by tribal communities and often requested within treatment programs (Legha and Novins 2012).…”

“…Ideas of community well-being and health can be much different than the dominant culture, and researchers should consider finding new ways to measure positive health variables. For example, while American Indians have disproportionately higher rates of depression when compared to national averages, over half (51.5%) of one study population also experienced flourishing positive mental health (Kading et al 2015). …”

“…These cultural factors had some similarities but often vary in definition. Participation in cultural activities included traditional food customs, traditional forms of socialization, and traditional forms of art (Whitbeck et al 2002; LaFromboise et al 2006; Kading et al 2015). Cultural identity varied considerably.…”

Can a Connection to Culture Reduce Mental Illness Symptoms and Risk for Future Violence?

“…Yet, quantitative evidence for the buffering influence of cultural identity on health and problem behaviours is unclear (Walls, Whitbeck, & Armenta, 2016). However, other investigations have produced contrasting findings (Kading et al, 2015;Paradies & Cunningham, 2012). However, other investigations have produced contrasting findings (Kading et al, 2015;Paradies & Cunningham, 2012).…”

A Cautionary Tale

“…Department of Health and Human Services, 2012) and display disproportionately high rates and earlier onset of certain psychiatric disorders (Whitbeck, Hoyt, Johnson, & Chen, 2006; Whitbeck, Sittner Hartshorn, Crawford, Walls, Gentzler, & Hoyt, 2014; Beals, Novins, Whitesell, Mitchell, & Manson, 2005). While such disparities have very real public health impacts worthy of our attention, also critical to understanding Indigenous health is evidence of resilience, positive mental health, and abstinence from substance use (Kading, et al, 2015; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2014). In addition, socio-cultural contexts likely drive important differences in mental health trends and correlates across diverse tribal groups (e.g., Indian Health Service [HIS], 2008; Novins, et al, 1999).…”