Mirrors for Pacific Islander Children: Teaching Resilience Through Culturally Adapted Bibliotherapy

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Cultural Psychiatry
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• Pacific Islander youth experience high rates of mental health challenges, including suicide.
• Culturally appropriate mental health interventions are critically needed for this population.
• Existing interventions often lack cultural relevance for American Samoan children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of culturally adapted bibliotherapy in promoting resilience among American Samoan children.
• To develop and implement bibliotherapy materials that incorporate Samoan culture and relevant coping strategies.
• To assess the engagement and perceived benefits of the intervention among participants.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was used with 34 American Samoan children (ages 5-13).
• Culturally adapted stories and lessons were co-developed with Samoan cultural brokers.
• Data collection involved observations, adapted card sorts, and forced-choice procedures.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated strong identification with culturally adapted stories and characters.
• Children actively engaged with the integrated coping strategies.
• Participants reported increased confidence in applying resilience techniques.

Conclusions:

• Culturally adapted bibliotherapy is a promising intervention for fostering resilience in Pacific Islander children.
• The importance of cultural authenticity in designing effective mental health support is highlighted.
• This approach can be adapted for other indigenous youth populations facing similar challenges.