Conceptual interdisciplinary model of exposure to environmental changes to address indigenous health and well-being

Global environmental changes not only impact the physical environment but the health and well-being of people on earth. Emerging research demonstrates how indigenous peoples' physical and behavioural health is disproportionately affected by changes to their ecosystems in combination with pre-existing social and economic inequities. This article introduces a conceptual model to enhance our understanding of environmental change and its impact on indigenous behavioural health and well-being.

Using an indigenous theoretical lens, this article presents a review of existing theoretical frameworks applied to environmental changes and empirical studies with indigenous populations.

The conceptual model joins elements from the indigenist stress-coping model from the field of social work with the exposure pathway model from the field of public health.

The interdisciplinary model joins elements from the indigenist stress-coping model with the exposure pathway model to highlight indigenous-specific sensitivities and cultural buffers that are particular to the impacts of environmental change among indigenous peoples.

Implications for public health and social work policy, practice and research with indigenous communities are discussed.