Mental health of Sami Youth

Abstract

Sami children and adolescents are the indigenous youngsters in Norway, mainly resided in the arctic part of the country. While disadvantaged living conditions, risk behavior and psychososial health problems has been shown for children and youth from many indigenous groups worldwide, the research among Sami youngsters is sparse. However, recent research show that compared to the Norwegian majority group, Sami children and adolescents have just as good mental health as their majority peers. They also show less risk taking behavior as substance and drug use, have less eating problems and have a stronger body satisfaction. However, the smoking rates are high as for their Norwegian counterparts. Intragroup studies show that Sami adolescents grown up in Sami dominated areas, have a strong bicultural identification, are practicing more Sami cultural behavior and have a better mental health compared to Sami peers in marginal Sami areas. Ethnocultural factors have only a slight impact on behavior problems among young Sami and particularly among boys in the marginal Sami areas.