Jessica Padgett, Nichaela Garvey, Marette Abdelmaseh, Arjunvir Singh, Yogita Singh, Alaina Thomas, Tyrone Pewatooalook, Brooke Qatsiya, Reuben Qaunaq, Hugh McCague, Jasmine Sidhu, Yvonne Bohr

Co-Developing and Validating the I-SPARX Wellness Questionnaire: A Community-Driven Psychometric Study with Inuit Youth in Nunavut

Introduction

Co-developing and validating the i-sparx wellness questionnaire: a community-driven psychometric study with inuit youth in nunavut. Validate the I-SPARX Wellness Questionnaire, a culturally relevant, psychometrically sound tool for assessing Inuit youth mental wellness in Nunavut. Co-developed, strong properties.

Abstract

Inuit youth in Nunavut demonstrate resilience despite enduring inequities and unmet mental health needs shaped by colonial legacies. As Inuit communities prioritize youth mental wellness, actively engaging young people in research and developing culturally relevant assessment tools is critical. This study describes the collaborative process of designing an Inuit-specific well-being survey, the I-SPARX Wellness Questionnaire, and examines its psychometric properties. Eighteen Inuit youth council members and eight adult community members from five communities in Nunavut worked with a university-based research team to identify wellness themes essential for an outcome measure evaluating an online psychoeducational intervention. This collaboration resulted in a 39-item measure assessing the effectiveness of the I-SPARX serious game in supporting Inuit youth mental wellness. Data from 117 Inuit youth, ages 12–24, across Nunavut were analyzed to assess the measure’s reliability and factor structure. Results indicate strong psychometric properties, with high internal consistency and a three-factor model reflecting hope for the future, cognitive-behavioural strategies, and distress regulation. The I-SPARX Wellness Questionnaire, co-developed with Inuit youth, offers a culturally relevant, psychometrically sound tool for assessing mental wellness. This measure holds promise for future evaluations of cognitive-behavioural interventions and psycho-educational e-resources aimed at fostering the well-being of Inuit youth.

Review

This study represents a highly significant contribution to the field of Indigenous mental health, particularly for Inuit youth in Nunavut, who navigate enduring inequities and unmet mental health needs shaped by colonial legacies. The research meticulously details the co-development and validation of the I-SPARX Wellness Questionnaire, addressing the critical need for culturally relevant assessment tools. The commitment to a truly community-driven approach, actively engaging Inuit youth and adult community members from the outset, stands out as an exemplary model for respectful, effective, and ethical research within Indigenous communities. The methodology employed is robust, showcasing a genuine collaborative partnership between Inuit community members and a university-based research team. The involvement of 18 Inuit youth council members and eight adult community members was instrumental in identifying essential wellness themes, ensuring the resulting 39-item I-SPARX Wellness Questionnaire is deeply rooted in local perspectives and priorities. Subsequent psychometric analysis, conducted with data from 117 Inuit youth (ages 12–24) across Nunavut, demonstrated strong properties, including high internal consistency and a clear three-factor model encompassing "hope for the future," "cognitive-behavioural strategies," and "distress regulation." These findings underscore the measure's reliability and validity, establishing it as a sound tool for assessing mental wellness. The development of the I-SPARX Wellness Questionnaire marks a crucial advancement in culturally appropriate mental health assessment. Beyond its immediate application for evaluating the I-SPARX serious game, this psychometrically sound and community-developed tool offers considerable promise for broader use in evaluating other cognitive-behavioural interventions and psycho-educational e-resources tailored for Inuit youth. This study not only delivers a valuable practical instrument but also provides a compelling case study for best practices in Indigenous health research, setting a high standard for future efforts to develop and validate culturally specific measures that genuinely reflect the wellness priorities of the communities they serve.

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