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AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE BOYS: EARLY CHILDHOOD RISK AND RESILIENCE AMIDST CONTEXT AND CULTURE
Author(s) -
Sarche Michelle,
Tafoya Greg,
Croy Calvin D.,
Hill Kyle
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.21613
Subject(s) - psychological resilience , context (archaeology) , socioeconomic status , population , early childhood , medicine , environmental health , gerontology , geography , psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , archaeology
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) adolescent and adult men experience a range of health disparities relative to their non‐AIAN counterparts and AIAN women. Given the relatively limited literature on early development in tribal contexts, however, indicators of risk during early childhood specific to AIAN boys are not well‐known. The current article reviews sources of strength and challenge within AIAN communities for AIAN children in general, including cultural beliefs and practices that support development, and contextual challenges related to socioeconomic and health disparities and historical trauma affecting the AIAN population as a whole. The research literature on early development is reviewed, highlighting what this literature reveals about early gender differences. The article concludes with calls to action on behalf of AIAN boys that align with each of the five tiers of R. Frieden's (2010) Public Health Pyramid.