The Native American Wellness Scale
Featured
Books:
The Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS)
The Development of an Multidimensional Quality of Life Measure for Indigenous Populations
This study will soon
be recruiting participants.
Affiliated with Walden University
Purpose
The purpose of this doctoral research study is to develop a culturally appropriate measure of wellness for Native American populations called the Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS), and to determine the instrument’s psychometric properties (i.e. reliability and validity). First, it is hypothesized that the Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS) will be a valid and reliable measure of Native American wellness. Secondly, it is hypothesized that overall Native American wellness is influenced by the five domains of psychological wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, spiritual wellbeing, physical wellbeing, and cultural wellbeing, with historical trauma acting as a mediating variable between overall Native American Wellness and the five domains of wellbeing.
Study Type: Scale Development, Cultural Psychology
Study Design: Mixed Methods, Defined Population
Official Title: The Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS): The Development of an Intertribal Quality of Life Measure for Native American and Indigenous Populations
Further Study Details:
Total Enrollment: 300
Study Start: Spring 2008
Expected Completion: December 2008
Description: There is a lack of culturally appropriate, standardized assessment instruments for Native Americans that measure wellness and quality of life. This critical omission is problematic for Native populations because they are at a higher risk for psychosocial problems, health problems, mental health disorders, and substance abuse problems than other ethnic groups.
The present study intends to report the development and validation of a scale to measure overall wellness in Native American and indigenous populations, called the Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS). The NAWS is a self-report measure designed to enable investigators to obtain easily sensitive measures of the degree of wellness experienced by individuals in five domains: (a) psychological well-being, (b) emotional well-being, (c) spiritual well-being, (d) physical
well-being, and (e) cultural well-being. The purpose of the study is to fill a void with respect to standardized quality of life and wellness measures appropriate for use with Native American populations.
The primary objective of this study is to develop a culturally appropriate measure of wellness for use with Native American and indigenous populations, and to explore the role of historical trauma on quality of life. To this end, the study will be successfully completed when the following goals have been achieved:
1. Native Wellness
a. Develop a psychometrically valid and reliable measure of wellness for use in Native American and indigenous
populations: The Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS).
b. Assess the degree to which the five dimensions of psychological well-being, emotional well-being, spiritual
well-being, physical well-being, and cultural well-being is predictive of Native Wellness.
c. Assess the effects of gender and age on Native Wellness scores.
2. Historical Trauma
a. Assess the degree to which psychological well-being, emotional well-being, spiritual well-being, physical
well-being, and cultural well-being are affected by Historical Trauma Symptoms (HTS).
b. Determine the degree to which Historical Trauma Symptoms (HTS) is predictive of overall Native Wellness.
c. Assess the effects of gender and age on Historical Trauma Symptoms (HTS) scores.
The Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS) is designed to provide a brief screening of information relevant to various issues related to quality of life, the Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS) will be useful for targeting areas where follow-up assessments might be needed, as well as areas where interventions may be appropriate. It will not, however, be designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of psychopathology or normal personality. The Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS) intends to reflect the relational worldview common to most Native people by measuring five dimensions of wellness: (a) physical well-being, (b) psychological well-being, (c) spiritual well-being, (d) emotional well-being, and (e) cultural well-being. It also provides an indication of the degree to which symptoms of historical trauma affect each of these dimensions and overall wellness.
Eligibility
Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years - 75 Years, Genders Eligible for Study: Both
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Primary cultural and racial identity is Native American/indigenous.
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Males and females between the ages of 18 and 75.
Exclusion Criteria:
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Children under the age of 18.
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Hospitalized individuals.
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Incarcerated individuals.
Location and Contact Information
Denise Alvarado, Ph.D Candidate Psychology -Research and Evaluation Walden University
(319)627-3164 denise.alvarado2@waldenu.edu
George Smeaton, Ph. D. Assistant Dean--Research and Evaluation College of Social, Behavioral, and Health
Sciences Walden University (612)801-2310 george.smeaton@waldenu.edu
United States
Walden University College of Social, Behavioral,
and Health Sciences Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Dissertation chair, members, and principal investigator
Denise Alvarado, Ph.D. Candidate Psychology - Research and Evaluation,
Principal Investigator,
Walden University
George Smeaton, Ph.D., Dissertation Committee Chair, Walden University
Stephanie Cawthon, Ph. D., Dissertation Committee Member, Walden University
William Disch, Ph. D., Dissertation Committee Member, Walden University
More Information
If you are of Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, or other indigenous background and would like to help make a difference in the delivery of health and mental healthcare for indigenous peoples, please consider volunteering as a research participant for the Native American Wellness Scale (NAWS) study. Complete the form below and you will be sent details via email.
For more information on the Native American Wellness Scale Study, please contact Denise Alvarado at dalvarad@waldenu.edu or nativewellness@gmail.com.
Click here to access the proposal.
.... everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and
every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence.
Mourning Dove - (Humishuma) (Christine Quintasket)- Okanogan - Salish 1888-1936