INDIGENOUS BASED COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS FOR WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

Abstract

Women's Empowerment and psychological well-being are the two main pillars behind sustainable community development. The intervention strategies of Indigenous communities around the world have unique ways for intervening. Their intervention is rooted in their collective wisdom and traditional knowledge which includes their spirituality and cultural practices therefore improving resilience and well-being. However, Indian psychology along with its ancient philosophies like Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras and Buddhist philosophy provides a comprehensive approach to understanding of human functions positively. Community Psychology promotes empowerment, participation and prevention while Indigenous and Indian psychological traditions offer culturally rooted methods of building resilience in individuals and communities. This review was conducted using electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar and included the studies which were published from 2010 to 2026. The review analysis proved that storytelling, healing circles, women's self-help groups, community cooperatives, land-based healing as well as yoga, meditation, traditional healing practices and leadership programmes relates to culturally based interventions. This in turn helps to improve resilience, self-esteem, cultural identity, social connectedness, collective efficacy, leadership, and psychological well-being.