Determinants of socioemotional and behavioral well‐being among First Nations children living off‐reserve in Canada: A cross‐sectional study.

Few studies have focused on off‐reserve Indigenous children and families. This nationally representative, cross‐sectional study (data collected from 2006 to 2007) examined Indigenous‐ and non‐Indigenous‐specific determinants associated with positive socioemotional and behavioral well‐being among First Nations children living off‐reserve in Canada. The parents or other caregivers of 2990 two‐to‐five‐year‐old children (M = 3.65; 50.6% male) reported on their children's socioemotional and behavioral well‐being and a range of child, parent, and housing characteristics. Being taught an Indigenous culture, greater community cohesion, caregiver nurturance, good parental/other caregiver health, and fewer household members were associated with better socioemotional and behavioral well‐being. These results highlight the importance of leveraging Indigenous‐specific determinants and acknowledging non‐Indigenous‐specific factors, to promote the well‐being of First Nations children living off‐reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]