A recent study has explored strengths-based indicators of well-being among Indigenous populations, using data from the 2022 and 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The research is one of the first to examine positive health factors at a large, population level within Indigenous communities.
The findings indicate that healthy functioning is closely linked to never smoking, regular physical activity, fewer chronic health conditions, and meeting basic financial needs. These results challenge deficit-focused narratives that place responsibility on individuals or groups rather than considering broader policies and socioeconomic conditions. Instead, the study highlights the importance of identifying factors that help Indigenous communities thrive.
Socioeconomic stability was found to be strongly associated with healthy functioning. Respondents who could consistently pay their bills or access transportation were much more likely to meet the criteria for well-being set by the study.
"Financial security is not simply an economic indicator-it is a health determinant," said co-author Teagan Miller, a recent Master of Social Work graduate from the FIFSW. "Stable access to food, transportation, and housing meaningfully increases the likelihood of healthy functioning, which reinforces the need for policy interventions that address systemic inequities."
The research also showed that chronic physical and mental health conditions were major predictors of lower healthy functioning. In particular, respondents without depression had over four times higher odds of meeting positive well-being criteria compared to those experiencing depression.
"Mental health cannot be separated from community, family, land, and cultural identity," said co-author Philip Baiden, an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington. "Interventions that incorporate Indigenous worldviews are essential to supporting emotional wellness and healing."
Healthy behaviors such as avoiding smoking and engaging in regular physical activity played a significant role in supporting well-being. More than half of respondents reported never having smoked, while about three-quarters were physically active.
"This study flips the script-shifting the narrative from deficits to the strengths and resilience of Indigenous Peoples," said co-author Esme Fuller-Thomson, a Professor at FIFSW and Director for the Institute of Life Course and Aging at the University of Toronto. "Healthy functioning among Indigenous Peoples is not rare-it's real, measurable, and deeply shaped by social and economic conditions."
While nearly 30% of Indigenous respondents met criteria for healthy functioning according to this research, two-thirds did not—highlighting ongoing needs for public health initiatives that address both structural inequities and culturally meaningful approaches to wellness.
The authors emphasize that this work adds to a growing body of research focusing on Indigenous strengths and holistic wellness rather than only disparities. They recommend future studies use measures defined by Indigenous communities themselves—including aspects related to community ties, culture, spirituality, and environment. The study was published recently in the Journal of Indigenous Well-Being.
