Abstract
Our review demonstrated that social support correlates with mental wellness among American Indian (AI) adults. Decreased social support was linked to increased psychological service use. Promoting social support in OT could improve AI mental wellness.
Primary Author and Speaker: Yvonne Monti
Additional Authors and Speakers: Riley Davis, Brittany Ninham, Diana Silchuk, Alhanoof Alkhaldi
This study aimed to examine the influence of social support on mental health of American Indians. Understanding how social support influences this population can help OTs design culturally appropriate interventions to address mental health needs of Native clients. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have unique identities shaped by culture, colonization, and historical trauma. This background contributes to increased mental health issues. AI/AN communities emphasize collective well-being, relying on social support from family, elders, and community connections tied to spirituality. This review investigates whether social support is associated with mental wellness among AI/ANs. Following PRISMA guidelines, a search string was developed, ‘(‘first nations’ OR ‘native american’ OR ‘american indian’) AND ‘social support.’’ Four databases were searched: ProQuest Social Sciences, CINAHL, PubMed, and PsychInfo. After duplicate removal, 429 titles and abstracts were screened, excluding 317 based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Full-text review of 112 articles identified 11 studies meeting all criteria. A data extraction table was created to synthesize data based on mental health aspects related to social support. Perceived social support correlated with mental wellness among AI/AN adults. Greater perceived social support was linked to lower levels of physiological and traumatic stress in older adults. High social support was also associated with reduced depressive symptoms in older adults and decreased PTSD symptoms in AI/AN women. Conversely, lower social support correlated with seeking psychological services among older adults and LGBTQ+ AI/AN individuals. Perceived social support positively correlates with mental wellness and negatively correlates with seeking psychological services in AI/AN adults. Impact Statement: Occupational therapy may help sustain social support within a cultural framework to enhance mental wellness for this population.
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