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Young Adult Development Indicators for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People: A Cross-National Longitudinal Study

Version 3 2024-06-19, 16:56
Version 2 2024-06-02, 14:55
Version 1 2023-02-13, 03:53
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-19, 16:56 authored by E Doery, Lata SatyenLata Satyen, Yin ParadiesYin Paradies, Bosco Rowland, JA Bailey, JA Heerde, Heidi RennerHeidi Renner, R Smith, John ToumbourouJohn Toumbourou
Worldwide, Indigenous youth face ongoing challenges and inequalities. Increasing our understanding of life course patterns in Indigenous youth will assist the design of strategies and interventions that encourage positive development. This study aimed to increase understanding of resilience and positive development in Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth across Australia and the United States of America. The Australian sample comprised 9680 non-Indigenous and 176 Pacific Islander and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The USA sample comprised 2258 non-Indigenous and 220 Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian and Native American/American Indian peoples. Data were used to examine how Indigenous background, volunteering, and community involvement at average age 15 years (Grade 9) predicted five young adult positive development indicators: Year 12 (Grade 12) school completion, tertiary education participation, independent income, paid employment, and intimate relationship formation from age 18 to 28 years. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that while Indigenous youth showed slower increases in positive young adult development over time, when adjusting for socioeconomic disadvantage, there was a reduction in this difference. Moreover, we found that Grade 9 community involvement and volunteering were positively associated with young adult development for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Findings indicate the importance of addressing structural inequalities and increasing adolescent opportunities as feasible strategies to improve positive outcomes for young Indigenous adults.

History

Journal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Volume

19

Article number

ARTN 17084

Pagination

17084-17084

Location

Switzerland

ISSN

1661-7827

eISSN

1660-4601

Language

English

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

24

Publisher

MDPI