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

Christian Young · Allison Tong · Janice Nixon · Peter Fernando · Deanna Kalucy · Simone Sherriff +3 more

41 citations0/0 files storedAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights Child Abuse and Trauma Resilience and Mental Health

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.

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References

2007Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups 2000The Construct of Resilience: A Critical Evaluation and Guidelines for Future Work 2007Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals.2000Levels of racism: a theoretic framework and a gardener's tale 2006Resilience across Cultures 2009Indigenous health part 2: the underlying causes of the health gap 1991Vulnerability and Resilience: A Study of High-Risk Adolescents 2012Resilience in children and youth: A review

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2019Instruments for Measuring the Resilience of Indigenous Adolescents: An Exploratory Review 2020A Systematic Scoping Review of the Resilience Intervention Literature for Indigenous Adolescents in CANZUS Nations 2019‘Next Generation Youth Well-being Study:’ understanding the health and social well-being trajectories of Australian Aboriginal adolescents aged 10–24 years: study protocol 2019Effects of racism on the socio-emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal Australian children 2020Parents' and carers' views on factors contributing to the health and wellbeing of urban Aboriginal children

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