Perspectives of American Indian/Alaska Native Mental Health Practitioners on Psychological Distress, Social Support, and Wellness

Abstract

Objective: This quantitative research study employed a correlational design to determine if there is an association between social support, psychological distress, and wellness among American Indian and Alaska Native mental health practitioners (AI/ANMHPs). Methods: A quantitative correlational approach examined to what extent a relationship exists between social support, psychological distress, and wellness among mental health practitioners who are Native American. The variable of psychological distress was measured by the Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45.2), the variable of social support was measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Social Support (MSPSS), the variable and the variable of wellness was measured using the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-WEL). Results: The sample comprised 95 AI/ANMHPs in the United States. A Spearman’s rank-order correlation was used to explore the relationship between social support and psychological distress (RQ1) and social support and wellness (RQ2) among AI/ANMHPs. The results of the study indicate a statistically significant negative correlation between social support and psychological distress (rs= -0.386, p < .001) and a statistically significant positive correlation between social support and wellness (rs = 0.439, p < .001). Conclusions: The current study found two statistically significant correlations. Social support was statistically significantly negatively correlated with psychological distress, and social support was statistically significantly positively correlated with overall wellness. These findings suggest that as the NAMHPs perceive more social support, their psychological distress decreases; so, NAMHPs need more culturally responsive support if they want to manage distress.