Childhood adversity and coping among Indigenous university students in Canada: Considerations when examining adverse childhood experiences.

Abstract

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with health-risk behaviors and chronic disease development. Although valuable, conventional ACE surveys may fail to adequately capture the range of adversities that some communities experience. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether First Nations and Metis postsecondary students and staff in Ontario identified domains of ACE not captured by conventional ACE surveys. In addition, this study aimed to identify potential coping strategies or factors.

Method: Qualitative interview and focus group methodologies were used; notably, we integrated aspects of the nominal group technique with elements of First Nations Sharing Circles. The data were thematically analyzed and organized by their impact as perceived by participants.

Results: Sixteen First Nations and Metis participants (ages 21-38) shared five additional domains of ACE: historical trauma, lack of infrastructure and public services, household and community dysfunction, gender-based adversities, and racial discrimination. Four domains of coping strategies and factors were identified: healing from trauma, improving cultural connections, strengthening social networks, and developing skills and knowledge.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the need to appreciate the sociological and historical experiences of communities, not just individuals, when surveying ACE among Indigenous youth. Specifically, when surveying ACE in Indigenous populations, measures should be expanded to include historical trauma, lack of infrastructure and public services, gender-based adversities, and racial discrimination. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).