Cultural Connectedness and Health-Related Quality of Life: Epidemiological Perspectives on Indigenous Global Health and Métis Context
Bibliographic record
Abstract
As one of Canada's constitutionally recognized Indigenous Peoples, Métis communities have distinct cultural identities and historical experiences that may influence their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Cultural connectedness –defined as the knowledge of and engagement with one’s culture– has emerged as an Indigenous determinant of health and a protective factor against the harms of intergenerational trauma. This thesis explores the relationship between cultural connectedness in Indigenous contexts and HRQoL, beginning with a systematic review of evidence from Indigenous populations in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States (CANZUS countries). The review found that cultural connectedness is generally associated across improved HRQoL, mental and physical health, although research remains limited, particularly studies focusing on specific Indigenous groups. The second chapter presents a secondary analysis of the cross-sectional Lii Zaanfaan survey, developed in partnership with the Otimpemisiwak Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA). The survey received 588 responses by caregivers of Métis children aged 2 to 10 years in Alberta. The objectives were to 1) identify cultural connectedness profiles among Métis children based on engagement in cultural activities and 2) evaluate the association between cultural connectedness profiles and HRQoL and mental and physical health outcomes. Using latent class analysis, three cultural connectedness profiles were identified: 1) the Culturally Balanced Engagement profile, characterized by moderate engagement in cultural activities, 2) the Cultural Mentorship Focus profile, emphasizing mentorship from cultural teachers; and 3) the Nature and Land Connection profile, marked by frequent participation in land-based activities. Children in the Cultural Mentorship Focus and Nature and Land Connection profile had significantly higher HRQoL scores than those in the Culturally Balanced Engagement profile. While no significant differences were found in mental health outcomes, children in the Culturally Balanced Engagement profile were more likely to report positive physical health. Overall, this thesis contributes to a strength-based, culturally grounded understanding of Indigenous health. It highlights the potential of cultural engagement as a pathway to improving HRQoL and well-being among Métis children and calls for further research tailored to the unique experiences of specific Indigenous populations.
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How this classification was reachedexpand
Full frame machine prediction
Teacher imitationNot calibrated prevalence, not ground truth. Human validation pending. The Gemma side is a direct model label for every work in the frame, read from the title-only record. The Codex side is a classifier learned from the 10,348 direct Codex labels and calibrated to design-weighted sample rates; fields without enough sample support carry no Codex call. Candidate is the union of the two sides; consensus is their intersection. These outputs are machine_predicted_unvalidated and are not human labels.
Distilled classifier scores by category (both heads)
| Category | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Metaresearch | 0.001 | 0.003 |
| Meta-epidemiology (narrow) | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Meta-epidemiology (broad) | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Bibliometrics | 0.003 | 0.004 |
| Science and technology studies | 0.001 | 0.002 |
| Scholarly communication | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| Open science | 0.000 | 0.002 |
| Research integrity | 0.000 | 0.001 |
| Insufficient payload (model declined to judge) | 0.002 | 0.000 |
Machine scores (provisional)
The two teacher heads of the student model, read on this work. A score orders the frame for review; it never asserts a category, and the validation status ships verbatim with every row.
Baseline scores from an immature model (maturity gate not passed, 7 training rounds). Scores rank; they never assert a category.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · verbatim from the scoring run: score_only means the number may rank works, and no category label ships from itClassification
machine, unvalidatedMachine predicted; a candidate call from one source (direct Gemma or distilled Codex), not a consensus.
How this classification was reached, model by model and score by score, is at the end of the page under "How this classification was reached".