Health and well-being of secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012

Terryann Clark; Theresa Fleming; Pat Bullen; Sue Crengle; Simon Denny; Ben Dyson; Roshini Peiris-John; Elizabeth Robinson; Fiona Rossen; Janie Sheridan; Tasileta Teevale; Jennifer Utter; Sonia Lewycka

doi:10.1111/jpc.12427

Health and well-being of secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012

Terryann Clark^*, Theresa Fleming, Pat Bullen, Sue Crengle, Simon Denny, Ben Dyson, Roshini Peiris-John, Elizabeth Robinson, Fiona Rossen, Janie Sheridan, Tasileta Teevale, Jennifer Utter, Sonia Lewycka

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

74 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim

To describe indicators of health and well-being for New Zealand secondary school students; explore changes between 2001, 2007 and 2012; and compare these findings to international estimates.

Methods

Three national health and well-being surveys of randomly selected New Zealand secondary school students were conducted. Data are presented as prevalence and variation over time (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)). Comparisons with international estimates were made with subsets of the data.

Results

Between 2001 and 2012, students reported reductions in cigarette use (aOR 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.32), alcohol use (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.33-0.46), marijuana use (aOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.31-0.43), sexual abuse (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.46-0.58), fighting (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55-0.73), seatbelt use (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.31-1.65) and risky driving behaviours (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.33-0.45). Positive connections to school (perception that the school cares, aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.35; liking school, aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.33-1.82) and family (good family relationship, aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.70-1.97) also improved. Indicators that did not improve and compared poorly with international estimates were protected sex (condom use at last sexual intercourse, aOR 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.87) and healthy life-style (daily physical activity, aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.99; overweight/obese, aOR 1.09, 95% CI 0.92-1.31). Exposure to family violence (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.68) and depressive symptoms (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.91-1.17) also did not improve.

Conclusions

There have been important improvements in the health and well-being of New Zealand adolescents over a relatively short period. These findings demonstrate that population rates of adolescent risk behaviours are amenable to change. Current policy efforts should not lose momentum, while identified priority areas must be adequately resourced to ensure young people have opportunities to thrive now and in the future.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	925-934
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
Volume	49
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.12427
Publication status	Published - Nov 2013
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1111/jpc.12427Licence: Free to read

Cite this

@article{672fe852e521431bb3bacad9fc16a591,

title = "Health and well-being of secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012",

abstract = "Aim To describe indicators of health and well-being for New Zealand secondary school students; explore changes between 2001, 2007 and 2012; and compare these findings to international estimates. Methods Three national health and well-being surveys of randomly selected New Zealand secondary school students were conducted. Data are presented as prevalence and variation over time (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)). Comparisons with international estimates were made with subsets of the data. Results Between 2001 and 2012, students reported reductions in cigarette use (aOR 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.32), alcohol use (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.33-0.46), marijuana use (aOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.31-0.43), sexual abuse (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.46-0.58), fighting (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55-0.73), seatbelt use (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.31-1.65) and risky driving behaviours (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.33-0.45). Positive connections to school (perception that the school cares, aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.35; liking school, aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.33-1.82) and family (good family relationship, aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.70-1.97) also improved. Indicators that did not improve and compared poorly with international estimates were protected sex (condom use at last sexual intercourse, aOR 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.87) and healthy life-style (daily physical activity, aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.99; overweight/obese, aOR 1.09, 95% CI 0.92-1.31). Exposure to family violence (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.68) and depressive symptoms (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.91-1.17) also did not improve. Conclusions There have been important improvements in the health and well-being of New Zealand adolescents over a relatively short period. These findings demonstrate that population rates of adolescent risk behaviours are amenable to change. Current policy efforts should not lose momentum, while identified priority areas must be adequately resourced to ensure young people have opportunities to thrive now and in the future.",

author = "Terryann Clark and Theresa Fleming and Pat Bullen and Sue Crengle and Simon Denny and Ben Dyson and Roshini Peiris-John and Elizabeth Robinson and Fiona Rossen and Janie Sheridan and Tasileta Teevale and Jennifer Utter and Sonia Lewycka",

year = "2013",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1111/jpc.12427",

language = "English",

volume = "49",

pages = "925--934",

journal = "Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health",

issn = "1034-4810",

publisher = "Blackwell Publishing Asia",

number = "11",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health and well-being of secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012

AU - Clark, Terryann

AU - Fleming, Theresa

AU - Bullen, Pat

AU - Crengle, Sue

AU - Denny, Simon

AU - Dyson, Ben

AU - Peiris-John, Roshini

AU - Robinson, Elizabeth

AU - Rossen, Fiona

AU - Sheridan, Janie

AU - Teevale, Tasileta

AU - Utter, Jennifer

AU - Lewycka, Sonia

PY - 2013/11

Y1 - 2013/11

N2 - Aim To describe indicators of health and well-being for New Zealand secondary school students; explore changes between 2001, 2007 and 2012; and compare these findings to international estimates. Methods Three national health and well-being surveys of randomly selected New Zealand secondary school students were conducted. Data are presented as prevalence and variation over time (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)). Comparisons with international estimates were made with subsets of the data. Results Between 2001 and 2012, students reported reductions in cigarette use (aOR 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.32), alcohol use (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.33-0.46), marijuana use (aOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.31-0.43), sexual abuse (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.46-0.58), fighting (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55-0.73), seatbelt use (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.31-1.65) and risky driving behaviours (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.33-0.45). Positive connections to school (perception that the school cares, aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.35; liking school, aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.33-1.82) and family (good family relationship, aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.70-1.97) also improved. Indicators that did not improve and compared poorly with international estimates were protected sex (condom use at last sexual intercourse, aOR 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.87) and healthy life-style (daily physical activity, aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.99; overweight/obese, aOR 1.09, 95% CI 0.92-1.31). Exposure to family violence (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.68) and depressive symptoms (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.91-1.17) also did not improve. Conclusions There have been important improvements in the health and well-being of New Zealand adolescents over a relatively short period. These findings demonstrate that population rates of adolescent risk behaviours are amenable to change. Current policy efforts should not lose momentum, while identified priority areas must be adequately resourced to ensure young people have opportunities to thrive now and in the future.

AB - Aim To describe indicators of health and well-being for New Zealand secondary school students; explore changes between 2001, 2007 and 2012; and compare these findings to international estimates. Methods Three national health and well-being surveys of randomly selected New Zealand secondary school students were conducted. Data are presented as prevalence and variation over time (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)). Comparisons with international estimates were made with subsets of the data. Results Between 2001 and 2012, students reported reductions in cigarette use (aOR 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.32), alcohol use (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.33-0.46), marijuana use (aOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.31-0.43), sexual abuse (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.46-0.58), fighting (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55-0.73), seatbelt use (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.31-1.65) and risky driving behaviours (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.33-0.45). Positive connections to school (perception that the school cares, aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.35; liking school, aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.33-1.82) and family (good family relationship, aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.70-1.97) also improved. Indicators that did not improve and compared poorly with international estimates were protected sex (condom use at last sexual intercourse, aOR 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.87) and healthy life-style (daily physical activity, aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.99; overweight/obese, aOR 1.09, 95% CI 0.92-1.31). Exposure to family violence (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.68) and depressive symptoms (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.91-1.17) also did not improve. Conclusions There have been important improvements in the health and well-being of New Zealand adolescents over a relatively short period. These findings demonstrate that population rates of adolescent risk behaviours are amenable to change. Current policy efforts should not lose momentum, while identified priority areas must be adequately resourced to ensure young people have opportunities to thrive now and in the future.

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U2 - 10.1111/jpc.12427

DO - 10.1111/jpc.12427

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C2 - 24251658

SN - 1034-4810

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EP - 934

JO - Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

JF - Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

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ER -

Health and well-being of secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012

Abstract

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Nutrition Research for Mental Health, Cognition and Eating Disorders

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Health and well-being of secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Other files and links

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Nutrition Research for Mental Health, Cognition and Eating Disorders

Public health nutrition research

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