{"id":225942,"date":"2025-11-25T08:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T18:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=225942"},"modified":"2025-11-25T08:24:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T18:24:12","slug":"mental-health-indigenous-elders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/11\/25\/mental-health-indigenous-elders\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultural connection boosts mental health for Indigenous elders"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Kupuna playing ʻulu\u00a0maika<\/span> (traditional stone disc-rolling game).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Engaging in cultural and social activities is strongly linked to better mental health for Native Hawaiian, American Indian & Alaska Native elders, according to a new study from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa published in American Indian & Alaska Native Mental Health Research<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Researchers from the H\u0101 K\u016bpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders<\/a> analyzed survey data from more than 19,000 older adults who participated in a national assessment sponsored by the U.S.<\/abbr> Older Americans Act<\/a>. Conducted every three years, the survey helps inform planning, long–term care discussions & grant applications for programs that support Indigenous elders.<\/p>\n

Traditions linked to better mental health<\/h2>\n
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K\u016bpuna weaving lauhala.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“We found that frequent participation in traditional cultural practices & social activities was strongly associated with better mental health,” said Miquela Ibrao, assistant professor and one of the study\u2019s lead authors from the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health<\/a>. “In contrast, functional limitations—such as difficulties bathing, dressing, cooking & cleaning for oneself—and caregiver burden were associated with poorer mental health.”<\/p>\n

Among the three groups studied, Native Hawaiian elders reported the highest average mental health score.<\/p>\n

“This may be because Native Hawaiian elders were most likely to regularly participate in cultural activities, as Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> traditions like hula & mele are celebrated across the islands,” said Kathryn Braun, professor of public health sciences. “Also, the Native Hawaiian sample had the highest proportion of retirees.”<\/p>\n

Ibrao said the findings highlight the value of community programs that honor cultural traditions, helping Indigenous elders stay mentally & emotionally healthy.<\/p>\n

The research was co-authored by Jane Lee, Yan Yan Wu & Jordan Lewis of the Thompson school, along with collaborators from the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota<\/a>, the University of Alaska Anchorage<\/a> & Southcentral Foundation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New UH<\/abbr> research ties cultural practices to stronger mental well-being in Indigenous elders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":130649,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[1133,1467,1363,1157,242,241,449,158,596,9],"class_list":["post-225942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-aging","tag-manoa-excellence-in-research","tag-manoa-research","tag-mental-health","tag-native-hawaiian-health","tag-public-health","tag-public-health-sciences","tag-publication","tag-myron-b-thompson-school-of-social-work","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t