Cultural Connection and Mental Health Among Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Background and Purpose: Cultural connection and group identity may be a protective factor for marginalized racial and ethnic minority groups. However, little research has addressed this question among indigenous populations or with nationally representative data. We address this gap by considering whether cultural connectivity (as measured by Aboriginal language skills) may protect the mental health of Aboriginal individuals in Canada. The limited exigent literature provides some evidence that high rates of traditional language knowledge at the community level, are protective against indigenous youth suicide. We hypothesized that language knowledge measured nationally at the individual level would also prove protective.  

Methods: We used the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS), a nationally representative study of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples in Canada. We used a subsample of respondents aged 15 or older that were asked questions about mental health (n= 15,329). Measures of cultural connectivity included: aboriginal language ability (none, understand, understand and speak), exposure (none, outside home only, in home only, both inside and outside home), and importance (low, average, high). We addressed three outcomes: anxiety diagnosis (yes/no), overall distress (K10 distress scale, ranging 0-52), and suicidal ideation (yes/no). Multiple imputation was used to preserve sample size (M= 20). Logistic regression was used for anxiety and suicidal ideation and OLS regression for distress. Control variables included: income, education, participation in traditional activities, reservation residence, language importance, Registered Indian status, indigenous identity, respondent’s sex, respondent’s marital status, and household size.

Results: High aboriginal language ability (vs. no ability) significantly reduced anxiety (OR= 1.11, p< .001), and distress score (b= 1.02, p<.001). Suicidal ideation was significantly increased for individuals who reported only understanding an aboriginal language (vs. no ability) (OR=1.08, p<.01). Language exposure both inside and outside the home was negatively associated with all three outcomes, as well. Language importance had no effect on mental health. 

Conclusions and implications: The use of, and exposure to, aboriginal language is a protective factor for some mental health conditions. Our results contribute to the literature by illustrating that cultural factors may help marginalized individuals overcome adversity—improving their health and life chances. This study diverges from the current literature, which focuses on community-level language ability, in some ways—particularly as it relates to suicidal ideation. Such findings suggest that the mechanisms that may be protective for communities may not be equally protective for individuals. It is possible that individual cultural loss may be particularly negative and may not be clear at the mezzo- or macro-levels. These findings are relevant to practitioners as it provides more nuanced insights into the role that cultural connectedness plays in aboriginal mental health, including improving our ability to identify those at increased risk of suicide. From a policy perspective, this research suggests the importance of providing and supporting opportunities for aboriginal individuals to engage their language and culture both inside and outside the home. Finally, this research raises important questions about the significance of cultural connectivity for other marginalized groups in North America.