Strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among Aboriginal people living in south-east Australia

Objective Lateral violence, a group of behaviours directed towards people of the same group, is considered endemic among Aboriginal people. Behaviours include bullying, gossiping, isolation or exclusion of certain group members, and challenges to one’s Aboriginal identity. Lateral violence impacts a...

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Main Authors: Theoni Whyman, Cammi Murrup-Stewart, Uncle Michael Young, Adrian Carter, Laura Jobson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Australian Journal of Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00049530.2024.2347646
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author Theoni Whyman
Cammi Murrup-Stewart
Uncle Michael Young
Adrian Carter
Laura Jobson
author_facet Theoni Whyman
Cammi Murrup-Stewart
Uncle Michael Young
Adrian Carter
Laura Jobson
author_sort Theoni Whyman
collection DOAJ
description Objective Lateral violence, a group of behaviours directed towards people of the same group, is considered endemic among Aboriginal people. Behaviours include bullying, gossiping, isolation or exclusion of certain group members, and challenges to one’s Aboriginal identity. Lateral violence impacts all aspects of one’s life. Due to its pervasiveness, this qualitative study investigated strategies employed by Aboriginal people to deal with lateral violence.Method Yarns with 17 knowledge-holders (53% male, 47% female; aged between 18 and 65 years) took place in south-east Australia. Thematic analysis and yarn summaries were used to analyse the yarns.Results Strategies identified to deal with lateral violence included changes to one’s attitude towards lateral violence, connecting with others, one’s culture and community to improve wellbeing, education strategies, and systemic change.Conclusion Supporting the development of Aboriginal identity, promoting social and emotional wellbeing, and true self-determination has the potential to heal Aboriginal communities and reduce lateral violence in the process.
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issn 0004-9530
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Australian Journal of Psychology
spelling doaj-art-2fec5a10283e41d5a5e6d16ca317a4cc2025-08-20T02:30:36ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAustralian Journal of Psychology0004-95301742-95362024-12-0176110.1080/00049530.2024.2347646Strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among Aboriginal people living in south-east AustraliaTheoni Whyman0Cammi Murrup-Stewart1Uncle Michael Young2Adrian Carter3Laura Jobson4Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, AustraliaTurner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, AustraliaAboriginal Community Elder, Mildura, AustraliaTurner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, AustraliaTurner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, AustraliaObjective Lateral violence, a group of behaviours directed towards people of the same group, is considered endemic among Aboriginal people. Behaviours include bullying, gossiping, isolation or exclusion of certain group members, and challenges to one’s Aboriginal identity. Lateral violence impacts all aspects of one’s life. Due to its pervasiveness, this qualitative study investigated strategies employed by Aboriginal people to deal with lateral violence.Method Yarns with 17 knowledge-holders (53% male, 47% female; aged between 18 and 65 years) took place in south-east Australia. Thematic analysis and yarn summaries were used to analyse the yarns.Results Strategies identified to deal with lateral violence included changes to one’s attitude towards lateral violence, connecting with others, one’s culture and community to improve wellbeing, education strategies, and systemic change.Conclusion Supporting the development of Aboriginal identity, promoting social and emotional wellbeing, and true self-determination has the potential to heal Aboriginal communities and reduce lateral violence in the process.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00049530.2024.2347646Lateral violenceAboriginal healthcoping strategiessocial and emotional wellbeingidentityqualitative research
spellingShingle Theoni Whyman
Cammi Murrup-Stewart
Uncle Michael Young
Adrian Carter
Laura Jobson
Strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among Aboriginal people living in south-east Australia
Australian Journal of Psychology
Lateral violence
Aboriginal health
coping strategies
social and emotional wellbeing
identity
qualitative research
title Strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among Aboriginal people living in south-east Australia
title_full Strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among Aboriginal people living in south-east Australia
title_fullStr Strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among Aboriginal people living in south-east Australia
title_full_unstemmed Strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among Aboriginal people living in south-east Australia
title_short Strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among Aboriginal people living in south-east Australia
title_sort strategies for coping and dealing with lateral violence among aboriginal people living in south east australia
topic Lateral violence
Aboriginal health
coping strategies
social and emotional wellbeing
identity
qualitative research
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00049530.2024.2347646
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