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Empowerment Self Defense Program for Adult Native Women Survivors of Sexual Violence
Sponsor: University of Michigan
Summary
The purpose of this study is to culturally adapt and evaluate an empowerment self-defense (ESD) program (i.e., IMpower) for AI/AN women who have experienced SV in their lifetime and currently experiencing moderate to severe levels of depression and/or PTSD symptoms (primary outcomes). Previous research with non-AI/AN women finds that ESD reduces depression and PTSD symptoms, but no research has examined ESD among AI/AN survivors despite calls from our tribal partners to implement ESD with AI/AN adult women survivors. We have assembled an interdisciplinary expert team and Elders/Traditional Knowledge Keepers (TKKs) as well as Survivor Advisory Board (SAB) in the proposed work.
Official title: Development and Evaluation of a Culturally Grounded Empowerment Self Defense Program for Adult Native Women Survivors of Sexual Violence: Open Pilot Trial
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
14
Start Date
2026-07-15
Completion Date
2028-06-14
Last Updated
2026-07-20
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Empowerment self-defense training
Participants will take part in the empowerment self-defense (ESD) program delivered in a small-group format. Sessions will be facilitated by trained facilitators and will focus on empowerment, personal safety skills, boundary setting, communication strategies, and trauma-informed discussions relevant to survivors of sexual violence. Sessions will follow a structured curriculum designed to provide participants with practical skills for recognizing risk, setting boundaries, and responding to potentially harmful situations. Facilitators delivering the program receive training in trauma-informed practice and are already certified to teach the ESD curriculum.
Locations (1)
Wahwala Iyohlogya/Peaceful Means
Pine Ridge, South Dakota, United States