American Indian Adolescent Perspectives on COVID-19 Impacts Within Great Plains Area Reservations

Abstract

Introduction:

COVID-19 created unprecedented disruption for school-age children and adolescents across the United States. This educational disruption was significant for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students. Our study’s purpose was to understand COVID-19’s impact on AI/AN adolescents’ education and their physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well-being, as well as their coping mechanisms.

Methodology:

We employed a qualitative descriptive design with 14 AI/AN adolescents aged 14 to 18 years among three Tribes in the Great Plains in August 2023.

Results:

Our participants reported several disruptions, yet they found unique ways to stay connected. The themes identified were social network, physical activity, emotional well-being, gaming, responses of reservation schools to COVID-19, and challenges of virtual learning.

Discussion:

There is a lack of focus on the resilience and protective factors among rural AI/AN adolescents. Understanding how these factors may enhance AI/AN well-being is essential for providing culturally responsive care and promoting healthy growth and development.

Keywords

adolescents clinical areas COVID-19 pandemic qualitative research rural education

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