Predictors of Land-Based Activity Participation in a National Representative Sample of Indigenous Individuals Living Off-Reserve

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jun 30;19(13):8029. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19138029.

Abstract

This study examined data from the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey to consider predictors of land-based activity engagement. We hypothesized that higher self-reported mental and physical health scores, an increased sense of cultural belonging, living in a rural community, and no prior individual or family history of residential school attendance would predict a higher frequency of land-based activity engagement among First Nations individuals living off-reserve. Results from linear regression analyses suggested that an increased sense of cultural belonging, being male, and living in a rural community with a population of less than 1000 people were significant predictors of the frequency of land-based activity engagement. With these preliminary findings, further research can explore how physical and mental health outcomes influence the frequency of land-based activity engagement, in addition to how community-specific indicators may promote higher frequency of these activities, particularly among First Nations individuals living off-reserve.

Keywords: First Nations health; Indigenous mental health; cultural treatment; land-based treatment; population-level health; public health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American* / psychology
  • Male
  • Self Report
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This research was funded by a grant from the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) and Indigenous Services Canada/Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (ISC/CIRNAC). Christopher J. Mushquash’s participation in this project was partially supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program (grant number: CRC-2019-00069) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (grant number: 33721). Elaine Toombs’ participation was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (application number: 454119).