Complement Ther Med. 2001 Dec; 9(4): 224-31.

Sociocultural factors influencing adolescent preference and use of native Hawaiian healers.

Bell CK, Goebert DA, Andrade NN, Johnson RC, McDermott JF, Hishinuma ES, Carlton BS, Waldron JA, Makini GK, Miyamoto RH.

Department of Psychiatry, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu 96813, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined the use of alternative therapies among adolescents. This study examines the predictors of Native Hawaiian healer preference in the treatment of physical or emotional problems as well as the predictors of healer use. DESIGN: This study is a longitudinal cross-sectional design. SETTING: The survey was conducted in five high schools in Hawai'i. PARTICIPANTS: 1,322 high school students selected preference for and/or use of allopathic or alternative practitioners. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Grade level, gender, ethnicity and cultural identity were used to predict healer preference. Healer preference, socioeconomic status and health status were used to predict healer use. RESULTS: Identification with the Hawaiian culture was the strongest predictor of healer preference for both Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian adolescents. Mental health was also predictive of healer preference for non-Hawaiians. Healer use by Native Hawaiian adolescents was also predicted by Hawaiian cultural identity. Gender, grade level, and socioeconomic variables were not predictive of healer preference or use. CONCLUSION: Cultural identity plays a significant role in the preference and use of alternative practitioners, especially for minority adolescent populations.