Empowerment Self Defense Program for Adult Native Women Survivors of Sexual Violence

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. The investigators have assembled an interdisciplinary expert team and Elders/Traditional Knowledge Keepers (TKKs) as well as Survivor Advisory Board (SAB) in the proposed work.