| Many theorists have emphasized value priorities as being important in understanding and predicting attitudes and behaviors (Rohan, 2000). This is particularly true amongst Native American scholars, who have emphasized the loss of traditional values as a contributor to the problems Native youth experience (Gone & Alcantara, 2007; Yellow Horse-Brave Heart, 2004). However, there has been little empirical investigation of how values relate to depressive symptoms and surprisingly few empirical studies of values in Native American youth. Therefore, the present study examined the relationship between individual value priorities and depressive symptoms among rural Native American youth from several different North American Plains tribes in grades 9-12. In addition, two potential moderators of this relationship were examined: perceived community value priorities and outcome expectations for value-related behaviors. Results indicated that Native American youth who endorsed traditional values had lower depressive symptoms. In addition, there was a negative relationship between individual superficial values and depression, although the strength of this effect was moderated by the extent to which the community was perceived as possessing superficial values. These findings support Native American community efforts to impart traditional values to Native American youth.;Keywords: Value Priorities; Value-Environment Congruency; Outcome Expectations for Values; Depression; Native American Youth. |
