Alcohol abuse constitutes a public health problem of immense proportions for Alaska Natives and is the highest ranked behavioral health problem in Alaska (Alaska Natives Commission; 1994). The primary goal of the People Awakening Resilience Project (PARP) is to develop a manual of culture-specific, multi-factorial, rural Alaska village-based alcohol abuse preventive interventions for Yup'ik Eskimo children ages 12 through 18 that have their theoretical basis in a heuristic model developed in previous research done with this tribal group and to pilot test them for feasibility, acceptability, and cultural compatibility. The project is the first stage of a long-term research agenda to develop a foundation for a later prevention trial to reduce underage drinking among Yup'ik Eskimo village youth.
The specific aims of the R21 application are to complete manual development for interventions based upon the heuristic model and to pilot test them for feasibility, acceptability, cultural compatibility, and fidelity. Analysis of data related to each will allow for further refinement of modules. PARP will also administer intermediate outcome measures on family and individual level variables and complete an exploratory testing of intermediate outcomes in one Yup'ik Eskimo community in Southwestern Alaska. Interventions suggested by the model will take place at the family and the individual levels. The design of the manual development utilizes a key informant methodology through group planning sessions with cultural experts. Community members will review modules that are developed with input from focus groups. A planning group consisting of 7 key informants from Village A and other villages will serve as co-researchers to develop the manual. This will insure that local context is included and engagement and collaboration are developed. Focus groups with other village members will provide feedback on the feasibility and cultural appropriateness of the modules. The manual will be tested in Village A with a sample of parents (n=16) and youth who are from these families (n=16) matched with a control of equal numbers of parents and youth who do not take part in the interventions. Exploratory analyses of the effects on intermediate outcomes will be completed to determine ways that the manualized preventive intervention affects participants.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21AA015541-01
Application #
6905905
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-HH (02))
Program Officer
Arroyo, Judith A
Project Start
2005-09-30
Project End
2007-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-30
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$216,200
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
615245164
City
Fairbanks
State
AK
Country
United States
Zip Code
99775
Philip, Jacques; Ford, Tara; Henry, David et al. (2016) Relationship of Social Network to Protective Factors in Suicide and Alcohol Use Disorder Intervention for Rural Yup'ik Alaska Native Youth. Interv Psicosoc 25:45-54
Henry, David; Fok, Carlotta Ching Ting; Allen, James (2015) Why Small is Too Small a Term: Prevention Science for Health Disparities, Culturally Distinct Groups, and Community-Level Intervention. Prev Sci 16:1026-32
Fok, Carlotta Ching Ting; Allen, James; Henry, David et al. (2014) The brief family relationship scale: a brief measure of the relationship dimension in family functioning. Assessment 21:67-72
Fok, Carlotta Ching Ting; Allen, James; Henry, David et al. (2012) Multicultural Mastery Scale for youth: multidimensional assessment of culturally mediated coping strategies. Psychol Assess 24:313-27
Henry, David; Allen, James; Fok, Carlotta Ching Ting et al. (2012) Patterns of protective factors in an intervention for the prevention of suicide and alcohol abuse with Yup'ik Alaska Native youth. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 38:476-82
Allen, James; Mohatt, Gerald V; Markstrom, Carol A et al. (2012) ""Oh No, We are Just Getting to Know You"": The Relationship in Research with Children and Youth in Indigenous Communities. Child Dev Perspect 6:55-60
Allen, James; Fok, Carlotta Ching Ting; Henry, David et al. (2012) Umyuangcaryaraq ""Reflecting"": multidimensional assessment of reflective processes on the consequences of alcohol use among rural Yup'ik Alaska Native youth. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 38:468-75
Mohatt, Nathaniel V; Fok, Carlotta Ching Ting; Burket, Rebekah et al. (2011) Assessment of awareness of connectedness as a culturally-based protective factor for Alaska native youth. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 17:444-55