HOʻOMANA I KA MAULI OLA: TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACHES TO DECOLONIAL AND INDIGENIZED WELLBEING FOR KĀNAKA ʻŌIWI

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2024

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Background and Objectives: Wellbeing is a construct important across disciplines, vital in supporting psychological health. However, wellbeing for Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiians) with behavioral health concerns is not well understood, and current measures are not well suited for use with Indigenous groups that experience settler colonialism and value ecological pono in spiritual pilina with ʻāina and other kūpuna. As such, a decolonial (and therefore indigenizing) mixed-methods approach using the transformative paradigm was employed to understand wellbeing theory, measurement, and empowerment for Kānaka ʻŌiwi. Goal 1 was to identify an emergent theory of wellbeing for Kānaka ʻŌiwi with behavioral health challenges (i.e., with determinants, states, outcomes). Goal 2 was to design and gather preliminary data for a wellbeing measure for Kānaka ʻŌiwi. Goal 3 was to empower Kānaka ʻŌiwi to engage in wellbeing-supportive behaviors. In alignment with decolonial approaches, the present project takes a critical lens to psychology’s role in the wellbeing of Kānaka ʻŌiwi. Methods: To achieve these goals, Goal 1 used qualitative community-based participatory action research (N = 39), grounded theory, and a new intersectional method, ho‘omana i nā leo. For Goal 2, items were created from prior models of Kanaka ʻŌiwi mauli ola and the Goal 1 theory and validated using three methods: an expert panel review (N = 5), in-depth cognitive interviews (N = 5), and a mixed-methods online validation survey (N = 166). Inferential statistics were used to analyze validity of the measure. Finally, Goal 3 used participatory methods resulting in the creation of a mauli ola empowerment material for Kānaka ʻŌiwi. Results: An emergent theory of wellbeing for Kānaka ʻŌiwi with behavioral health challenges was identified (Ke Ao Nōweo 'Ula), along with implications for further interdisciplinary research and application. In support of Goal 2, a preliminary measure of decolonial wellbeing (Kukui Mālamalama) was developed and tested for multiple forms of validity. Results from validity testing suggest good face validity indicated by clarity scores, content validity indicated by relevance scores, and convergent and divergent validity indicated by correlations, t-tests, and one-way ANOVAs. A directory of wellbeing resources for Kānaka ʻŌiwi was created in response to participatory data and is publicly available (E Ho'omana me nā Kumu Waiwai: Empowering through Resources).

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Clinical psychology, critical psychology, decolonial, mixed methods, Native Hawaiian, transformative, wellbeing

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431 pages

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