Culture as Cure? The Protective Function of Māori Cultural Efficacy on Psychological Distress

"Kia mau koe ki nga kupu a ou tupuna, kia mau ki to Maoritanga," "Holdfast the words of your ancestors, hold fast your Maori culture. " --Maori whakatauki Maori are the indigenous people who comprise 15% of the population in Aotearoa, New Zealand (Statistics New Zealand, 2013). Maori continue to experience health disparities compared to the European or Pakeha majority (Robson & Reid, 2001; Borrel, McCreanor, Jensen & Barnes, 2009; Sibley, Harre, Hoverd & Houkamau, 2011; Houkamau & Sibley, 2011). Maori clinicians and researchers tend to emphasise that interventions meant to benefit Maori must be culturally appropriate and address Maori cultural needs in order to be effective (e.g. Durie, 1985, 1986, 1997, 2001). The reasoning behind the view that 'culture is cure' is based on both theory and practice which suggests that greater access to, awareness of and engagement in Maori cultural traditions (e.g. Tikanga Maori, Te Reo Maori, Whanaungatanga) can serve as a protective factor against a range of negative outcomes faced by Maori (e.g. Borell, 2005; Durie, 1994, 1997; Houkamau & Sibley, 2011; Mead. S, 1999; Mead. H, 2003). Contextually, enculturation is not readily available to many Maori due to the intersecting forces of racism, mass deculturation, assimilation and other remnants of colonisation (see: Houkamau & Sibley, 2011). Additionally, previous research suggests Maori who affiliate jointly as Maori and Pakeha (from here on referred to as mixed Maori-Europeans) experience different psychological outcomes to those who solely identify as Maori (Houkamau & Sibley, 2011; Marie, Boden & Fergusson, 2008). With this in mind this study investigates the buffering effects of Maori enculturation using a within-culture measure, 'Cultural Efficacy', which was designed specifically for Maori from Houkaumau and Sibley's (2010, 2015) Multi-Dimensional Model of Maori Identity and Cultural Engagement. In this study we propose an Efficacy-Distress Buffering Model of Maori identity which addresses the theoretical discrepancy between research identifying the protective function of enculturation (measured as 'Cultural Efficacy') and the documented differences in psychological outcomes experienced by sole-identifying Maori relative to mixed Maori-Europeans (e.g. Ward, 2006; Marie et al., 2008; Houkamau & Sibley, 2014). Our model posits that high levels of Cultural Efficacy should have a buffering function which protects Maori against psychological distress. We anticipate that higher levels of Cultural Efficacy will have a more pronounced effect on sole-identifying Maori, relative to their mixed Maori-European counterparts. Thus, our model asserts that sole-identifying Maori who are high in Cultural Efficacy will show greater psychological resilience than sole-identifying Maori with lower levels. Indeed, our model explores the possibility that sole-identifying Maori who are high in Cultural Efficacy may experience better psychological outcomes than mixed Maori-Europeans regardless of the latter group's Cultural Efficacy. We test our model using data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study, a national probability postal survey. A brief review of Maori diversity Research on indigenous identity in Aotearoa has been limited in capturing the unique characteristics and diverse range of experiences which constitute 'being Maori' (e.g. Cormack & Robson, 2010; Durie, 1994; Houkamau, 2006; Houkamau & Sibley, 2011; Kukutai, 2004, Kukutai & Zealand, 2008, Kukutai & Callister, 2009; Moeke-Pickering, 1996; Mikaere, 2004; Poata-Smith, 2013). In the past, Maori have often been homogenised into a monodimensional and essentialised group identity which overlooks and erases the vast diversity among Maori at both a national and tribal level. In Te Ao Maori (The Maori World), Maori traditionally affiliate to subgroups such as iwi (tribe), hapu (sub-tribe) and whanau (family). …