This report presents selected findings for young ‘Asian’ New Zealanders from the Youth 2000 national secondary school youth health survey.
Key Results
Overall
• Most young “Asian” New Zealanders are healthy, report positive family environments and do not engage in risky behaviours. Overall, young Chinese and Indian New Zealanders are less likely to engage in risky behaviours than their NZ European peers.
Demography
• Young “Asian” New Zealanders are an extremely diverse group, differing in ethnicity, mother tongue, socio-economic status, and duration of residence in New Zealand. These differences correspond to differences in health status amongst this group.
• Many young “Asian” New Zealanders were born in New Zealand, and many others have been resident in New Zealand for over 5 years. Young “Asian” New Zealanders who are recent migrants represent a minority.
• Most young “Asian” New Zealanders have a good command of English and feel comfortable in Pakeha/ NZ European cultural settings. However, more than half of young Chinese New Zealanders and around 40% of young Indian New Zealanders have a language other than
English as the major language at home.
• The largest groups of young “Asian” New Zealanders are Chinese and Indian. Many young “Asian” New Zealanders do not have a sole ethnic identity. Many also identify with a non-“Asian” ethnicity.
School Safety
• Many young “Asian” New Zealanders, in particular young Chinese New Zealanders, do not feel safe at school, and for some students this leads to absenteeism.
• Young “Asian” New Zealanders are less likely to report bullying than their NZ European peers, but for those who do, they are more likely to report traumatic bullying. Few of these young people report their bullying experience to an adult.
Access to Healthcare
• Many young “Asian” New Zealanders do not access healthcare, especially young Chinese New Zealanders and those who have been in New Zealand less than fi ve years. Young Chinese New Zealanders are much more likely to report lack of access to healthcare than their NZ European peers and are also more likely to report obstacles to accessing healthcare.
Mental Health
• Mental health is a major health issue for young “Asian” New Zealanders. Many report significant depressive symptoms and anxiety, with females and Indian young people particularly vulnerable. Young Indian New Zealanders report higher prevalence of depression than their NZ European peers. Some of these young “Asian” New Zealanders report suicidal thoughts.
Physical Activity
• Many young “Asian” New Zealanders, particularly female students, report low levels of physical activity.
Risky Behaviours
• While overall “Asian” New Zealanders are a healthy group with low levels of risky behaviours, a small group of young “Asian” New Zealanders do engage in risky behaviours such as binge drinking, smoking, unsafe sex, and marijuana use.
• Young male Indian New Zealanders are more likely to engage in risky behaviours than female Indian New Zealanders. This gender difference is not seen amongst young Chinese New Zealanders.
• Young “Asian” New Zealanders who are recent migrants are less likely to engage in risky behaviours than those born in New Zealand – a “healthy migrant effect”. This appears to be an effect of acculturation as young “Asian” New Zealanders who were born overseas but are not recent migrants fall between these two groups in terms of prevalence of risky behaviours.