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. 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.Key words: adolescent behaviour; binge drinking; mental health; reproductive health; risk taking; self-report. What is already known on this topic1 There are high rates of potentially modifiable causes of morbidity and mortality in adolescence. These are mainly related to risk-taking, life-style choices and mental health and are driven by family, peer and media influences. 2 Young people in New Zealand historically have high rates of suicide, motor vehicle crashes and teenage pregnancies compared with other developed countries. 3 The social and structural contexts in which young people live have a significant impact on their health and well-being. What this paper adds1 There were improvements in the health and well-being of New Zealand secondary school students over a relatively short period. 2 There were small changes in family and school connectedness and perceptions of neighbourhood safety, as well as large reductions in substance use, risky driving behaviours and involvement in violence. There has been less improvement in mental health, physical activity, obesity and injury. 3 Despite New Zealand's poor international ranking for suicide, teenage birth and injury, fewer students reported making suicide attempts, getting pregnant or engaging in risky driving behaviours in 2012 compared with 2001, suggesting positive changes.Adolescence is a phase of rapid change when adult behavioural patterns are being established. 1 Focusing on adolescent wellbeing provides an opportunity both to ...

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