Terry Fleming

Emotional resilience: risk and protective factors for depression among alternative education students in New Zealand.

A total of 268 alternative education students from New Zealand were surveyed to examine risk and protective factors for depression within the social environment. Twenty-eight (35.4%) of the girls and 31 (21.1%) of the boys had cut-off scores that indicated a high likelihood of significant psychopathology from depression. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that family and peer connections were protective against depression. High levels of poverty, witnessing violence at home, and experiencing bullying at school were significant risk factors for depression.

Clustering of adolescent health concerns: a latent class analysis of school students in New Zealand.

The aims of this study are to identify clinically meaningful groups of adolescents based on their engagement in high levels of risk behaviours or severe emotional health concerns and to describe the demographic characteristics of these groups in two populations of school students in New Zealand.

Food Security Concerns Among Young People: Impact on Eating Behaviors and Weight Status

The current article aims to examine the extent of food security concerns experienced by adolescents in New Zealand in 2007 and examine the impact of food security on student eating behaviors and weight status. Data were collected as part of a national health and well-being survey of secondary school students in New Zealand. More than one third of secondary school students reported that their families worried about having enough money for food sometimes or more often. Food security concerns were positively associated with overweight/obesity and negatively associated with healthy eating behaviors. We found no association between food security and the consumption or home availability of junk foods. Future research is needed to understand how ongoing threats to food security will affect the healthy development of young people.

Dietary behaviours and the mental well-being of New Zealand adolescents

To examine the associations between diet and mental health indicators in adolescents.

Using the Internet to access health-related information: results from a nationally representative sample of New Zealand secondary school students

Abstract Objective To determine if secondary school students in New Zealand who report greater health concerns (e.g. significant depressive symptoms) are more likely to use the Internet to access health-related information. Methods A nationally representative health and wellbeing survey was undertaken in 2012 (n = 8500). Multiple regression models were used to examine the associations between students’ use of the Internet to access health-related information and selected outcomes or indicators. Results Over 90% of students used the Internet on a daily basis, with 15.4% of students reporting that they had used the Internet to access health-related information. Students experiencing household poverty were more likely to report not using the Internet daily (17.4% compared to 4.2%). Odds ratios (ORs) for accessing the Internet for this sort of information were highest for students who reported self-harm [OR 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3–3.3], disordered eating (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.4–3.2), or a suicide attempt (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9–3.3). Conclusion Our findings suggest that Internet-based health interventions may be a viable way to reach young people with high health needs, but consideration needs to be given to those with limited Internet access.