The Role of Indigenous Family Ethnic Schema on Well-Being Among Native Hawaiian Families

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Laurie D McCubbin
Educational Leadership and Counseling Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America

PP: 170 - 180

Abstract

Despite assertions of the importance of family in Indigenous cultures and its impact on psychological and physical health, there remains a paucity of research and a lack of measurement on Indigenous families' worldviews and their respective impact on well-being.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between Indigenous family ethnic schema and individual well-being. The sample consisted of 81 older adults (average age was 60.94 years old) with 77 Native Hawaiian and part-Native Hawaiian participants, and two Caucasian and two Asian participants with a Hawaiian partner or spouse.

Family ethnic schema focusing on Indigenous values, beliefs, expectations and priorities was found to explain higher levels of individual well-being independent of age, income and gender. Clinical implications of family ethnic schema in terms of help-seeking behavior, treatment and adherence to treatment are discussed.

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Keywords

family, resilience, ethnic schema, Native Hawaiian, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, well-being

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