Understanding anger with New Zealand-born Samoan youth: A Samoan qualitative exploration

Objective

Understanding New Zealand-Samoan young people’s experiences and definitions of anger.

Methods

Focus group talanoa (discussions) with 12 New Zealand-born Samoan young people guided by ‘Teu le Va’ methodology. We used a culturally informed thematic analysis approach.

Results

Participants defined anger as a ‘bottled up’ emotion and emphasised understanding cultural contexts that normalised covert and passive ways of expressing anger. Other key themes around anger we identified included experiencing multiple layers of racism and disconnection in westernised social spaces and pressures to juggle traditional Samoan and western identities. Participants also explored gendered expressions of anger. Communicating anger was important, but not in ways that harm communal values.

Conclusions

Culturally appropriate qualitative research helps understand complex cultural determinants of mental health and wellbeing and suicidal behaviour.

Implications for Public Health

We must recognise the positive, polycultural capital of a generation that navigates many cultural spaces, including their emotional expressions. Anger should be understood in relation to cultural and societal pressures. Improved understanding of the cultural context of anger can inform systemic responses during crises in mental health and prevention of suicidality.