Perspectives on childhood resilience among the Aboriginal community: an interview study

Abstract

Objective: To describe Aboriginal community members' perspectives on the outcomes and origins of resilience among Aboriginal children.Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 36 Aboriginal adults (15 health service professionals, 8 youth workers and 13 community members) at two urban and one regional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in New South Wales. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. Results:We identified six themes: withstanding risk (displaying normative development, possessing inner fortitude); adapting to adversity (necessary endurance, masking inner vulnerabilities); positive social influences (secure family environments, role modelling healthy behaviours and relationships); instilling cultural identity (investing in Aboriginal knowledge, building a strong cultural self-concept); community safeguards (offering strategic sustainable services, holistic support, shared responsibility, providing enriching opportunities); and personal empowerment (awareness of positive pathways, developing self-respect, fostering positive decision making). Conclusions:Community members believed that resilient Aboriginal children possessed knowledge and self-belief that encouraged positive decision making despite challenging circumstances. A strong sense of cultural identity and safe, stable and supportive family environments were thought to promote resilient behaviours.Implications for public health: Many Aboriginal children continue to face significant adversity. More sustainable, Aboriginal-led programs are needed to augment positive family dynamics, identify at-risk children and provide safeguards during periods of familial adversity.

The prevalence and protective factors for resilience in adolescent Aboriginal Australians living in urban areas: a cross‐sectional study

“…This method has been used previously with other Indigenous populations 15 . Based on previous SEARCH research, 7 we defined resilience as normative social and emotional wellbeing.…”

“…In the context of this study, protective factors are considered to be any variable that is associated with better social and emotional wellbeing outcomes. Five protective factors identified in previous qualitative research 7 were assessed using SEARCH survey questions. Each of these survey questions was originally adapted from the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) 4 .…”

“…Evidence suggests that these factors contribute to an increased risk of physical and mental health problems 4,5 . However, most Aboriginal young people are resilient; that is, they show positive outcomes despite the presence of adversity 6,7 . Identifying factors that are associated with resilience during adolescence may help inform programs with the potential to improve wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal young people.…”

“…The Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health (SEARCH) is a large‐scale cohort study, the aims of which are to identify the determinants and trajectories of health in urban Aboriginal children and their caregivers 9 . Previous qualitative research indicated that SEARCH communities believed resilient Aboriginal children exhibited normative social and emotional development, including maintaining prosocial relationships, despite the presence of challenging circumstances 7 . Aboriginal community members and health professionals believed resilience was built, in part, through the support available from within the family, schools and the wider community, an awareness of positive pathways, and the self‐belief required to set and achieve desired goals.…”

Mental health and substance use disorders: The reality of youth in custody

“…Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that poor family cohesion and the presence of adverse events in this group of adolescents are a reliable predictor of negative mental health outcomes (Young et al . ).…”