Development of a growth and empowerment tool (GEM-Youth) co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Growth and Empowerment Measure was developed by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults to measure social and emotional well-being and empowerment. This study aimed to co-design and validate a version of the Growth and Empowerment Measure with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people experiencing youth detention. METHOD: 103 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people experiencing youth detention participated. Participants directed seven adaptations from the Growth and Empowerment Measure for adults to create a Growth and Empowerment Measure-Youth (GEM-Youth). 78 participants completed the GEM-Youth version 7 and 57 participants completed both the full GEM-Youth version 7 and the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10). Cronbach's alpha and inter-item correlations were calculated for two components of the GEM-Youth: how I feel about myself and thinking about my everyday life. Associations between K10 and GEM-Youth scores were quantified using Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: How I feel about myself questions had a mean inter-item correlation of (0.21) and good internal consistency (α = 0.80). Thinking about my everyday life questions had a mean inter-item correlation of 0.18 and internal consistency of α = 0.69. How I feel about myself showed a strong negative correlation (r(55) = -0.61, [95% confidence interval: -0.42, -0.75] p < 0.001) with K10. Thinking about my everyday life showed a moderate negative correlation with K10 (-0.31, [95% confidence interval: -0.05, -0.52] p = 0.02). IMPLICATIONS: The GEM-Youth provides a culturally grounded and validated measure to assess social and emotional well-being and empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in detention settings. This measure has therapeutic and research value that should be further refined and explored. Future research should adapt and validate this tool for use with other groups and settings.