Research on Indigenous health has traditionally focused on disease, health disparities, and social inequalities. However, a recent study titled A Closer Look at Flourishing Indigenous Peoples: Findings from a Population-Based Study takes a different approach by examining the factors that contribute to well-being and resilience among Indigenous adults. Rather than focusing solely on health problems, the study explores the concept of flourishing, defined as healthy functioning across multiple aspects of life.
This study highlights that physical health alone does not define well-being. Other important factors that shaping overall quality of life include mental health, social relationships, life satisfaction, and financial stability. By identifying factors associated with flourishing, the researchers aim to provide insights that may help inform public health policies and strategies to support Indigenous communities.
Understanding how Indigenous adults maintain well-being despite the influence of historical and structural challenges may also change the overall discussion of a deficit-centred discourse to a more resilience-focused and strengths-based approach within these communities. In order to examine flourishing among Indigenous populations, researchers conducted a population-based observational study using data from a large national health survey. More than 6,000 American Indians/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NH/PI) adults participated in the study.
A multidimensional framework was used to determine the healthy functioning across various aspects of well-being, including physical health, mental health, stress levels, life satisfaction, and the existence of supportive social relationships. Participants were classified according to their level of flourishing across these domains. The researchers then analyzed the impact of the behavioral and socioeconomic variables on healthy functioning.
Key variables examined included smoking status, physical activity, chronic disease burden, and financial stability. This method helped the researchers to detect patterns associated with positive health outcomes in Indigenous communities. The results also showed that approximately 30% of Indigenous adults met the criteria for flourishing, indicating that nearly one-third of the study population was thriving across multiple aspects of well-being. However, about two-thirds of participants did not meet these criteria, suggesting that many individuals continue to face barriers affecting their overall health and well-being.
Several socioeconomic and behavioural factors were strongly associated with flourishing. Participants with healthier functioning were more likely to never smoke, engage in physical activity, have fewer chronic health problems, and have the ability to fulfill basic financial requirements. The associations were manifested in lifestyle trends among the population. The research indicated that there were over 50% of non-smokers, and approximately three-quarters reported being physically active, both of which were linked to higher levels of well-being.
Economic stability also played a critical role in flourishing. Individuals who were able to meet their financial needs were significantly more likely to demonstrate healthy functioning. This observation highlights the importance of social and economic conditions as key determinants of health outcomes. Overall, the results indicate that individual lifestyle behaviors and broader structural determinants influence well-being among Indigenous adults.
The study provides evidence that flourishing is present within Indigenous communities and can be measured using population-level data. The observation that almost one-third of Indigenous adults demonstrate healthy functioning challenges the prevailing narrative that Indigenous health research should focus only on deficits and disparities. At the same time, the fact that two-thirds of participants did not meet the flourishing criteria underscores the need to address structural factors that continue to affect Indigenous health.
The researchers suggest that the strategies to improve well-being should not only focus on individual health behaviors but also address broader social and economic determinants. The researchers also highlight the importance of incorporating Indigenous perspectives when defining and measuring well-being. For future research, the authors recommend incorporating cultural, community, spiritual, and environmental aspects of health to provide a more holistic understanding of flourishing among Indigenous populations. Such approaches may help inform policies and health interventions aimed at fostering healthier and more empowered Indigenous communities.
Reference: Quinn A, Baiden P, Fuller-Thomson E, et al. A closer look at flourishing Indigenous peoples: findings from a population-based study. Journal of Indigenous Wellbeing. 2026:1:91-119. A closer look at flourishing Indigenous peoples: findings from a population-based study
