The role of Indigenous family ethnic schema on well-being among Native Hawaiian families

Despite assertions of the importance of family in Indigenous cultures and its impact on psychological and physical health, there remains a paucity of research and a lack of measurement on Indigenous families' worldviews and their respective impact on well-being.The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between Indigenous family ethnic schema and individual wellbeing. The sample consisted of 81 older adults (average age was 60.94 years old) with 77 Native Hawaiian and part-Native Hawaiian participants, and two Caucasian and two Asian participants with a Hawaiian partner or spouse. Family ethnic schema focusing on Indigenous values, beliefs, expectations and priorities was found to explain higher levels of individual well-being independent of age, income and gender. Clinical implications of family ethnic schema in terms of help-seeking behavior, treatment and adherence to treatment are discussed.