Participants

The study included participants older than 18 years. In the end, the sample consisted of 72 adults which was stratified by age (youth=48, elders=24) and gender (women=41, men=31). In these indigenous communities older community members play an important role in the lives of young ones as the elders are expected to pass down the indigenous knowledge systems that inform how to manage their environment. Working with the adults provided valuable insight into why these communities coped the way they did. Another advantage of working with indigenous communities was it allowed for the documentation of ways of coping that might differ from western cultures which in turn promotes awareness of coping diversity.