Talking Circle Mental Health Intervention with a Mindfulness Approach Among Rural Native American Youth

Authors

  • John Lowe, RN, PhD, FAAN University of Texas at Austin
  • Huigang Liang, PhD University of Memphis
  • Melessa Kelley, PhD, RN, MSN University of Texas at Austin https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7336-6044
  • Rose Wimbish-Tompkins, PhD University of Texas at Arlington
  • Kimberly Wheeler, MSW, LCSW University of Oklahoma

Keywords:

Native American, talking circle , mindfulness, mental health

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the outcomes of a mindfulness-based intervention for the prevention of mental health disorders among rural dwelling Native American youth ages 10-12.

Sample: Native American student participant sample (N=20) was recruited from schools from one rural Native American tribe in the Midwestern United States. The county where the study was conducted is officially designated as a nonmetropolitan county, and it is classified as rural according to the county-level system.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study measured mental health outcomes that included stress, anxiety, depression, substance use (alcohol and drugs) and commercial tobacco use. All participants were Native American who resided in rural tribal communities.

Findings: Study sample was both female (N-10) and male (N-10), with a mean age of 11.37. Participants self-reported significant decreases in mental health disorders of stress, anxiety, depression, substance use (alcohol and drugs) and commercial tobacco use from baseline pre-intervention to 3-months post intervention. Native Reliance (cultural identity) significantly increased from baseline pre-intervention to 3-months post-intervention.

Conclusion: Findings from this pilot study support the use of a mindfulness approach delivered in a cultural based Talking Circle intervention for the prevention of mental health disorders among rural dwelling Native American youth

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v26i1.799

Author Biographies

  • John Lowe, RN, PhD, FAAN , University of Texas at Austin
    Joseph Blades Centennial Memorial Professor  School of Nursing 
  • Huigang Liang, PhD, University of Memphis

    Professor
    PhD Coordinator
    FedEx Chair of Excellence in MIS

  • Melessa Kelley, PhD, RN, MSN, University of Texas at Austin

    Assistant Professor
    School of Nursing

  • Rose Wimbish-Tompkins, PhD, University of Texas at Arlington

    Assistant Professor

  • Kimberly Wheeler, MSW, LCSW, University of Oklahoma

    Interim Assistant Clinical Director at Echota
    PhD. Student, Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work, 

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Published

2026-05-18

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 1 (2026): Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 26(1)

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 John Lowe, RN, PhD, FAAN , Huigang Liang, PhD, Melessa Kelley, PhD, RN, MSN, Rose Wimbish-Tompkins, PhD, Kimberly Wheeler, MSW, LCSW

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