Ongoing Health Inequality in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population in Australia:Stressful Event, Resilience, and Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being Difficulties

Abstract

This study aims to examine psychosocial factors associated with mental health and emotional well-being difficulties in a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. A self-reported survey was administered to 155 par- ticipants aged 18-80 from five Indigenous communities, who were recruited through local Aboriginal Community Con- trolled Health Services. Stress, resilience, mental health and emotional well-being were measured. Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyse the association of stress and resilience with mental health and emotional well-being difficul- ties. Seventy-eight participants had no mental health or emotional well-being difficulties but 77 participants were at risk. Low levels of resilience emerged as a key psychosocial factor associated with mental health and emotional well-being dif- ficulties while high levels of resilience were associated with a reduced risk. High levels of stress was related to an increased risk of experiencing mental health and emotional well-being difficulties. Improving our understanding of psychological characteristics associated with resilience in the face of stress can inform prevention and treatment interventions for stress-exposed individuals.