Protective factors of native youth: findings from a self-report survey in rural Alaska

Abstract

This study investigates the perceived internal and external assets of indigenous youth and assesses how different protective variables relate to gender, age, and community size. A cross-sectional design captured self-report, protective-factor data from pre-adolescent and adolescent youth living in a rural region of Alaska in 2010. The convenient sample included youth aged 10–20 who were recruited by their peers in their small, rural communities. The 50-item survey utilized a 4-point Likert scale to measure the following concepts: responsibility, peers and family relations, community engagement, and importance of and participation in traditional culture. Data analysis included descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, and correlations), Chi-squared test, and factor analysis. The 355 surveys were balanced for gender, age, and residence. Factor analysis produced six factors: internal assets, family, community, peer, culture, and moral responsibility (KMO = 0.903; χ2 (496) = 4226.575, p = 0.000). Youth surveys emphasized protective factors, with negative responses only pertaining to community engagement. Youth valued their traditional culture, but a large portion did not have regular access to participating in cultural activities. Females and younger participants reported more extensive support and sense of self determinism than male and older participants.

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