Examining Spirituality’s Influence on Resilience among Adopted or Fostered Native American Emerging Adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spirituality and resilience among Native American emerging adults who were adopted or fostered as children-an understudied population at heightened risk for adverse outcomes due to the intersection of poverty, intergenerational trauma, cultural assimilation, and out-of-home care experiences. Utilizing a retrospective survey, data were collected from 405 Native American emerging adults ages 18 to 30 who were either adopted or fostered as children at any point from birth to age 17. Regression analysis revealed a small but statistically significant relationship between spirituality and resilience. Gender differences were also observed, with male respondents scoring significantly higher on resilience than female respondents. These findings support the role of spirituality as a modest protective factor, affirming Indigenous cultural/spiritual inclinations and the humanistic framework of interconnected well-being. Implications include the necessity for social work practitioners to incorporate spirituality-informed, culturally congruent interventions, such as facilitating access to traditional ceremonies and spiritual mentors. This study highlights the importance of reclaiming spiritual connections as part of resilience frameworks for Native American youth and emerging adults navigating the challenges of adoption and foster care.