Abstract
Background and objective: This article explores the aspects of spirituality and religious involvement that may be the protective factors against substance use among urban American Indian (AI) youth. Methods: Data come from AI youth (N 123) in five urban middle schools in a southwestern metropolis. Results: Ordinary least squares regression analyses indicated that following Christian beliefs and belonging to the Native American Church were associated with lower levels of substance use. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Following AI traditional spiritual beliefs was associated with antidrug attitudes, norms, and expectancies. Having a sense of belonging to traditions from both AI cultures and Christianity may foster integration of the two worlds in which urban AI youth live.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 444-449 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2012 |
Keywords
- Native American
- Religion
- Spirituality
- Substance use
- Urban American Indian
- Youth
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health