Well-being Assignment 3B. Kellie Logan PDF

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Designing an intervention. Graded Distinction ...

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Running head: SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA

Healing intergenerational trauma within the Indigenous community using signature strengths therapy as an intervention.

Kellie Logan

Student ID: 101888896

Submitted as assignment 3B for PSY30011 Tutor: Kasey Lloyd Due date: 30th September 2019 Word count: 5132

2 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA Abstract Intergenerational trauma affects most Indigenous Australians as a result of the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families by state governments between the years of 1910 and 1970. Removed children are known as the Stolen Generations. As a result of the Stolen Generations, individuals suffer from various psychological disorders, and alcohol and substance abuse which has resulted in widespread familial dysfunction. There are currently no psychological interventions for Indigenous peoples and their descendants suffering from intergenerational trauma as a result of the Stolen Generations. The proposed signature strengths intervention is structured on the Social and emotional well-being (SEWB) principles that are effective for Indigenous peoples and will include direct and extended family in the intervention. Group therapy will be administered via a narrative therapy structure that closely resembles Indigenous cultural yarning circles. All participants will take the Values in Action Signature Strengths questionnaire to discover their top five signature strengths, and group therapy will teach participants to use their signature strengths in everyday life. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale will be administered to participants at the onset of the intervention to measure levels of depression, anxiety and stress, and again at the conclusion to assess whether these were significantly reduced. Likewise, the Satisfaction With Life Scale will be administered at onset and conclusion to assess whether satisfaction with life significantly increases. It is expected that using signature strengths as an intervention will reduce psychological mood disturbances and increase satisfaction of life and well-being within the Indigenous population.

3 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA

Table of Contents

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………….2

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………4

Overview of social issue………………………………………………………………………6

Intergenerational trauma………………………………………………………………6

Positive psychology………………………………………………………………………….10

Intervention proposal…………………………………………………………………………16

Using Signature Strengths as an intervention………………………………………..16

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………20

References……………………………………………………………………………………22

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This intervention proposal focuses on using the signature strengths therapy as an intervention for Indigenous Australians who have suffered either directly or indirectly, from intergenerational trauma. Intergenerational trauma occurred as a result of the Australian government’s forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families between the years of 1910 and 1970. These children are known as the Stolen Generations. Survivors of the Stolen Generations suffer from psychological mood disturbances such as stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD and other psychological disorders. There is substantial statistical evidence of substance, and alcohol abuse and homelessness as a result of the treatment they received in state care. (HREOC, 1997). The proposal further outlines how intergenerational trauma has resulted in several generations of Indigenous Australians now living with dysfunctional familial systems that include violence and alcohol and substance abuse. Currently, the only intervention for Indigenous peoples is the Closing the Gap Strategy (CTG) introduced by the Australian government in 2007 to reduce the inequality and disadvantage experienced by Indigenous Australians regarding life expectancy, education, and health care (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 2008) (HREOC). As of 2017, the CTG is failing in six of its seven targets with education being the only target that is on track (Independent Education Union of Australia, 2017). The CTG offers no psychological interventions for the Stolen Generations and their descendants. Additionally, the report gives a brief overview of positive psychology and the numerous ways that it can reduce psychological mood disturbances and enhance an individual’s life by raising levels of life satisfaction and well-being as opposed to the usual clinical psychological interventions that only treat the disorder with no regard for the quality of life experienced by the disorder. It also explains the signature strengths intervention in

5 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA detail and outlines how using the top five individual signature strengths can increase wellbeing and allows an individual to lead the ‘good life’ as explained by its creator Martin Seligman (2002). Furthermore, the report provides empirical research demonstrating that significant levels of well-being and satisfaction with life have been achieved using signature strengths as an intervention. It also discusses the limitations of previous studies so that our intent with our proposed intervention is transparent and all attempts are made to remain impartial, relying solely on the evidence of research. The report continues with the intervention proposal and outlines the process of the intervention, including the target participants, where the intervention should ideally take place and a full description of the proposed intervention. The intervention is to be facilitated by a psychologist who is either Indigenous or a psychologist who has appropriate training in cultural awareness and competency.

Participants will be asked to take the Depression

Anxiety Stress Survey (DASS) (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) to measure levels of depression, anxiety and stress. They will also take the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) ( Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) to measure levels of satisfaction with life. Additionally, they will also take the Values In Action (VIA) signature strengths questionnaire (Seligman & Peterson, 2002) to discover their top five signature strengths. Delivery of the intervention will be in a group format that consists of weekly 90minute sessions for a total of 12 weeks. Group sessions will be available for both adults and children and will include family and extended family so that the intervention is formatted following the values and culture of Indigenous Australians which views kinship and community with high regard. Individual sessions will also be available for individuals who require further support during the intervention. At the intervention conclusion, participants will again take the DASS to assess if levels of depression, anxiety and stress have been reduced and the SWLS to assess if levels of satisfaction with life have increased.

6 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA The report outlines expected limitations of the proposed intervention, such as a lack of Indigenous psychologists available in Australia and obtaining a psychologist who is trained in the signature strengths intervention. Additionally, it is anticipated that funding may be challenging to secure and that maintaining attendance for the duration of the intervention may pose a problem. Finally, the conclusion discusses the social burden on society of intergenerational trauma and suggests additional areas to cover for future research in the arena of intergenerational trauma.

Intergenerational trauma Since the colonisation of Australia in 1788, the first nations peoples have been forced to assimilate to Eurocentric values. Colonisation has been detrimental not only to their physical and mental health and well-being; but it has also impacted the cultural formation of Indigenous families and communities (Lee, Griffiths, Glossop, & Eapen, 2010). The introduction of a European diet and alcohol have had disastrous effects on the first nations peoples with declining physical and mental health becoming problematic Australia wide and contributing to community dysfunction (Gracey, 2000). Diagnoses of diabetes and cardiovascular disease are the most common physical problems, while alcohol and drug abuse have resulted in high levels of addiction, mental health disorders and incarceration (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011) (AIHW). However, the most damaging occurrence for first nations peoples have been the Stolen Generations. Intergenerational trauma affects Indigenous peoples in Australia who were forcibly removed from their families and forced to assimilate with white Australians. The Bringing them Home Report documents damage done to Indigenous Australians resulting from the forced removal of children from their families. From 1910 to 1970 in all states of Australia; it is estimated that one in three Indigenous children were forcibly removed

7 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA from their parents and sent to missions, government institutions or for adoption into white families if their skin was light enough (Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission, 1997) (HREOC). Children were forced to assimilate to European culture and speaking their native cultural dialect resulted in harsh physical punishment (HREOC, 1997). The trauma of dispossession of their land, culture, identity and removal from their families has resulted in high levels of depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD in many individuals. Most of those removed were physically, psychologically and sexually abused or raped and forced to work without wages living under state care. Many were never reunited with their families (HREOC, 1997). Forcible removal has affected the majority of Indigenous people’s capacity to have meaningful relationships with others, resulting in substance abuse, homelessness, and incarceration (HREOC, 1997). Families affected by forced removal have dysfunctional familial systems and many of the survivor’s display a lack of empathy and do not know how to display love to their children or grandchildren (HREOC, 1997). These homes are often violent, and children are raised with the same physical punishments and lack of parental affection that survivors of the Stolen Generations endured. Survivors and their descendants often have unresolved grief as a result of the Stolen Generations (HREOC, 1997). To instigate healing for members of the Stolen Generations and subsequent generations requires a holistic perspective based on Indigenous principles (Dudgeon, 2017). It was asserted by Dudgeon and Kelly (2014), that interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are ineffective as they are not holistic and based on Indigenous cultural principles. Furthermore, they posited that Indigenous peoples do not respond well to interventions based on Eurocentric values and any psychological interventions for Indigenous

8 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA peoples should be based on the domains of social and emotional well-being (SEWB) structure. See Figure 1 below.

Figure 1. Domains of social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) (Gee et al., 2014).

Domains of SEWB is an Indigenous principle that demonstrates the interconnectedness of the domains of body, spirituality, mind and emotions, country, culture, community and, family and kinship. These are viewed from a collectivist point of view. To achieve shared outcomes, the ‘self’ operates together and interconnects with, and is a part of a broader measure of family and community. Using the same Eurocentric ideologies that instigated the dispossession of beliefs and connections to culture cannot be used to address or heal the dispossession (Dudgeon, 2017). Prior to colonisation and the resulting Stolen Generations, Indigenous Australians lived nomadic lifestyles with basic diets, adapting to the land of their specific cultural groups and were generally healthy (Gracey, 2000). Palaeopathology indicates that Indigenous Australians did not suffer from disease until colonisation introduced diseases such as smallpox and tuberculosis (Webb, 1995). Even after colonisation, many individuals who lived in remote areas did not drink, and alcohol abuse only became problematic as a result of the forced removal of their children (Hogan, 2007). Parents grieving for their stolen children turned to alcohol to dull their pain and subsequent births in families resulted in those children

9 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA being forcibly removed as well, or they were neglected due to their parents abusing alcohol to deal with their grief (Hogan, 2007). Numerous survivors of the Stolen Generations have stated that prior to their forced removal, neither of their parents consumed alcohol, and they were well cared for and happy children (Hogan, 2007). In the decades that have followed since the Stolen Generations, the Australian government has publicly, and formally apologised to all Indigenous Australians who were affected by the forcible removal of Indigenous children. On the 26th May 1998 the prime minister, Kevin Rudd delivered a speech to all survivors of the Stolen Generations and their descendants. Since that day, the 26th May is known as National Sorry Day and is recognised annually (AHRC, 2019). However, thousands of Indigenous families from around Australia have suffered permanent psychological damage, and the mental health disturbances they have repeated in each generation resulting in continued intergenerational trauma. Since the Bringing them Home Report was released and the formal apology was delivered, the Australian government has tried unsuccessfully to repair the damage done by forcible removal. In 2007 the Australian government implemented the Closing the Gap Strategy (CGS) to create equality and decrease disadvantage for Indigenous Australians in areas such as health care, education, and mortality rates and employment (HREOC, 2008). As of 2017, CTG was failing in six of its seven targets and received criticism from many experts and academics (Independent Education Union of Australia, 2017). The 2018 CTG report asserted that mortality rates for Indigenous peoples are widening and health equality for Indigenous Australians is deteriorating (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2018) (AHRC). As an intervention for Indigenous Australians, CTG is inadequate in all areas except education which is the only target currently being met. Although health was an original target of CTG, it did not prioritise mental health and offered no psychological interventions. It has been demonstrated that individuals who experience

10 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA continual psychological damage such as stress, depression and anxiety cause damage to their physical health and increase the risk of premature death (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). Thus, had the CTG targeted mental health at the outset, physical health data may have demonstrated more significant outcomes. Statistically, it has been demonstrated that 64% of the disease burden for Indigenous Australians is chronic diseases (AIHW, 2011). Of this, mental and substance abuse disorders had the highest rate (19%), which includes depressive and anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders and drug and alcohol abuse disorders. The data also demonstrates that nonIndigenous Australians are 2.3 times less likely to experience burdens of disease than Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Australians are 31.8 times more likely than nonIndigenous Australians to die from burdens of disease related to mental and substance abuse disorders (AIHW, 2011). Although CTG was a broad intervention focused on reducing disadvantage for Indigenous Australians, it has failed dismally. There is currently no intervention in Australia that is directly aimed at reducing the mental anguish experienced by Indigenous Australians as a result of intergenerational trauma.

Positive psychology Historically, clinical psychology has focused on mental disorders and researching which interventions are most efficacious for treating each disorder and reducing the levels of stress associated with the disorder (Johnson & Wood, 2017). It was not until Martin Seligman became president of the American Psychology Association in 1997 and delivered his speech to members of the American Psychology Association that the positive psychology movement was founded (Seligman, 2019). Seligman acknowledges that while there is undoubtedly a need for interventions to treat existing disorders, he asserts that it would be more beneficial

11 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA for patients to undergo interventions that focus on the positive attributes instead of the negative points of their diagnosis. Furthermore, Seligman suggests that the basis of positive psychology is to focus on the choices we would make if we were not subdued and suffering. Therefore, concentrating on the notion of good mental health and living, what he refers to as the ‘good life’. Positive psychology has been demonstrated to be efficacious in the intervention of psychological disorders, and mood disturbances along with improving levels of well-being across several platforms. In a 10-week group intervention for middle-school children (sixth grade), it was found that the intervention group had significantly higher levels of life satisfaction at post-test than exhibited at pre-test, while life satisfaction for the control group declined (Saldo, Savage, & Mercer, 2014). Additionally, levels of life satisfaction for the intervention group were maintained. Similarly, Shoshani and Steinmetz (2014) reported that in their longitudinal study of middle school children, the intervention group demonstrated significantly lower levels of depression, anxiety and distress at post-test than at pre-test than the control group. The authors also posited that increased levels of optimism and self-esteem were demonstrated in the intervention group at post-test. Positive psychology has also been demonstrated to be efficacious in the workplace with significant increases in well-being and illness-related absences declining for employees reported by Kaplan et al. (2014). Other areas that positive psychology has demonstrated effective results are for health and psychological disorders such as clinical depression (Chaves, Lopez-Gomez, Hervas, & Vazquez, 2017), cardiovascular health (Boehm & Kubzansky, 2012), and longevity of life (Diener & Chan, 2011). Due to the demonstrated efficacy of positive psychology in differing areas, and the range of interventions available, it was anticipated that a psychology intervention would be the best fit for the proposed intervention for intergenerational trauma.

12 SIGNATURE STRENGTHS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA Designed by Seligman and Peterson (2002), the Values in Actions (VIA) classification of strengths became the signature strengths scale which measured an individual’s strengths in order from one to twenty-four. The signature strengths intervention focuses on an individual’s top five strengths that are unique to each individual and teaches the individual to cultivate those strengths and use them in their every-day lives, allowing them to lead the ‘good life’. The twenty-four strengths are divided into six categories of virtues, with each category comprising a list of strengths. Results for individuals will be varying and are a reflection of each individuals character strengths. Categories of virtues and strengths are detailed in Table 1.

Table 1 Categories of virtues and strengths of the Signature Strengths Virtues Strengths Wisdom & knowledge Curiosity, love of learning, judgement, ingenuity, social intelligence, and perspective Courage Valour, perseverance, integrity Humanity Kindness, loving Justice Citizenship, fairness, leadership Temperance Self-control, prudence, humility Transcendence Appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, spi...