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

Abstract

Objectives: 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.

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

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

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

Keywords: Behavioural health; Environmental change; Health; Indigenous peoples; Well-being.