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. 2014 Sep;54(1-2):125-39.
doi: 10.1007/s10464-014-9661-3.

A protective factors model for alcohol abuse and suicide prevention among Alaska Native youth

James Allen  1 , Gerald V Mohatt, Carlotta Ching Ting Fok, David Henry, Rebekah Burkett; People Awakening Team
Affiliations

A protective factors model for alcohol abuse and suicide prevention among Alaska Native youth

James Allen et al. Am J Community Psychol. 2014 Sep.

Abstract

This study provides an empirical test of a culturally grounded theoretical model for prevention of alcohol abuse and suicide risk with Alaska Native youth, using a promising set of culturally appropriate measures for the study of the process of change and outcome. This model is derived from qualitative work that generated an heuristic model of protective factors from alcohol (Allen et al. in J Prev Interv Commun 32:41-59, 2006; Mohatt et al. in Am J Commun Psychol 33:263-273, 2004a; Harm Reduct 1, 2004b). Participants included 413 rural Alaska Native youth ages 12-18 who assisted in testing a predictive model of Reasons for Life and Reflective Processes about alcohol abuse consequences as co-occurring outcomes. Specific individual, family, peer, and community level protective factor variables predicted these outcomes. Results suggest prominent roles for these predictor variables as intermediate prevention strategy target variables in a theoretical model for a multilevel intervention. The model guides understanding of underlying change processes in an intervention to increase the ultimate outcome variables of Reasons for Life and Reflective Processes regarding the consequences of alcohol abuse.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hypothesized Relations based on the PA Heuristic Model of Protective Factors for Alaska Native Youth (Allen at al., 2006).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Protective Factors Path Model for Alaska Native Youth (n = 413). χ2(108, N = 413) = 256.8, p < .01; GFI = .93; CFI = .93; RMSEA = .06 All values displayed are significant at a minimum p < .05 level Note. Correlated errors between the Support and Mastery-Friends subscales and between the Mastery-Self and Efficacy subscales are not shown and described in Results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Alcántara C, Gone JP. Reviewing suicide in Native American communities: Situating risk and protective factors within a transactional-ecological framework. Death Studies. 2007;31:457–477. - PubMed
    1. Alaska Department of Health & Social Services [DHSS] Alaska State Suicide Prevention Plan. Anchorage, AK: Statewide Suicide Prevention Council; 2004. Retrieved from http://www.hss.state.ak.us/suicideprevention/StatePlan/default.htm.
    1. Allen J, Mohatt GW, Hazel KL, Rasmus M, Thomas LR, Lindley S PA Team. The tools to understand: Community as co-researcher on culture specific protective factors for Alaska Natives. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community. 2006;32:41–59. - PubMed
    1. Allen J, Mohatt GV, Fok CCT, Henry D People Awakening Team. Predictors of Alaska Native adolescent sobriety and reasons for life: A protective factors model for alcohol abuse and suicide prevention among Alaska Native youth. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2012;38(5):468–475. - PubMed
    1. Allen J, Mohatt GV, Beehler S, Rowe HL. People Awakening: Collaborative research with Alaska Native communities to address alcohol use disorders and suicide related health disparities. American Journal of Community Psychology. (this issue). - PMC - PubMed

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