How COVD-19 Impacted Indigenous Teens in California

A 2025 study of 114 American Indian and Alaska Native teenagers living in California examined how their health changed from before the COVID-19 pandemic to during it.

Researchers compared data collected between 2018 and early 2020 with follow-up information gathered from late 2020 to mid-2022. They found that the adolescents’ body mass index percentile decreased slightly, meaning their weight relative to peers went down, but their blood pressure increased even though average levels remained within the normal range for their age group.

Emotional health shifted more noticeably: symptoms of both depression and anxiety rose significantly. Despite the increased stress, there was no rise in alcohol or cannabis use. The adolescents also reported a stronger sense of cultural identity during the pandemic, but at the same time a stronger awareness of historical loss, which refers to the collective trauma and injustices experienced by their communities across generations.

Taken together, the findings suggest a mixed impact. Some physical and emotional health indicators worsened, but growing cultural connection may have offered resilience and support. The authors highlight the importance of understanding how cultural identity can influence well-being for Indigenous youth who live away from their tribal lands, especially during major stressors like the pandemic.