The efficacy of a multicultural prevention intervention among urban American Indian youth in the southwest U.S.
This study explored how a non-targeted group of ethnic minority youth might or might not benefit from a prevention intervention focused on other cultural groups. The study specifically evaluated the effects of an evidence-based drug prevention curriculum with a sample of urban American Indian youth in the southwest U.S., most of whom self-reported multi-ethnic heritages. Using growth curve modeling, this research examined the developmental trajectory of drug use for these youth, and compared it with the trajectory of youth from other racial/ethnic groups at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and two follow up time periods. Results indicate that alcohol and marijuana use increased from pre-intervention across subsequent time periods for all youth. The drug use of the American Indian youth in the treatment group increased on some measures. Specifically, they reported a steeper trajectory in the amount and frequency of alcohol and marijuana use compared to the youths in the treatment groups with other racial/ethnic identifications. The implications of these findings for the development of culturally grounded prevention programs for multi-ethnic, urban American Indian youth are discussed. EDITORS' STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS: This research provides a specific example, but also makes a strong global argument, for the need to develop and evaluate prevention programs that are culturally grounded in the worldview of the target group.
Dixon
Andrea L
AL
Department of Counselor Education, University of Florida, 1207 Norman Hall, P.O. Box 117046, Gainesville, FL 32611-7046, USA. adixon@coe.ufl.edu
Yabiku
Scott T
ST
Okamoto
Scott K
SK
Tann
Sheila S
SS
Marsiglia
Flavio F
FF
Kulis
Stephen
S
Burke
Aimee M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*