A culturally based survey to measure historical trauma in American Indian and Alaska Native communities
Development of an Instrument for Assessment of Indigenous Historical Trauma as a Social Determinant of Health Among American Indian/Alaska Native Populations
This project will create a community-guided questionnaire to capture how past collective harms affect the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11241957 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are partnering with tribal communities to collect stories, interviews, and group feedback to define what indigenous historical trauma looks like across generations. They will use cultural models and community-based methods to turn those findings into survey questions, then refine the questions through pre-testing. The team includes university and tribal partners who will work together to make sure the tool is respectful and relevant. The final goal is a validated, usable measure communities and health workers can use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are American Indian and Alaska Native adults from partner tribes and communities who can share personal and family experiences related to historical trauma.
Not a fit: People who are not American Indian/Alaska Native or those seeking immediate medical treatment rather than participating in survey development are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help communities and health providers recognize and address how historical trauma contributes to health problems and guide better supports and policies.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier measures have focused on historical loss and symptoms, but broader cross-generational instruments are relatively new and this work is fairly novel.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- George Washington University — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Edberg, Mark — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Edberg, Mark
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.