A qualitative study of ecological factors impacting American Indian adolescents living on the Fort Peck Reservation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION

American Indian communities were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest COVID-19 mortality rate of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. In particular, American Indian adolescents faced unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES

This manuscript presents the self-reported experiences, interpersonal relationship perspectives, and behaviors of American Indian adolescents aged 14 to 18 living on the Fort Peck Reservation in Northeastern Montana during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews (n = 31) investigated the ecological factors influencing the American Indian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, including: (1) tribal governance, economics, environment; (2) protection from COVID-19; (3) social impact of COVID-19; (4) relationships; and (5) access to services. Inductive analyses were conducted within each of these aforementioned categories.

RESULTS

Our findings suggest that participants' perspectives varied widely on how well the Fort Peck Tribes handled transmission mitigation strategies. Participants also described how the COVID-19 pandemic had a predominantly negative impact on relationships with peers and their academic performance, and a mixed impact on their ability to access services. Our most striking finding was the positive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family connectedness, communication within the family, and the use of traditional medicines and ceremonies among American Indian adolescents.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the importance of promoting family connectedness, parent/caregiver-adolescent communication, and the use of traditional American Indian healing practices to mitigate risk and promote health and wellness during future pandemics.