Now We Are 12: Structural Disadvantage and Rangatahi Māori Mental Wellbeing. Snapshot 10

Youth mental health is a major policy concern. Rangatahi Māori experience poorer mental health than other young people in Aotearoa, and evidence suggests rangatahi mental wellbeing is deteriorating. This paper draws upon insights from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study, to inform policy solutions to improve mental wellbeing for rangatahi Māori. Of particular relevance to mental wellbeing, is the collection of information about structural disadvantage, which is known to disproportionately impact Māori. Growing Up in New Zealand has collected information on key aspects of structural disadvantage since before the cohort were born through to 12-years of age.

In particular, this paper seeks to answer the following questions:

1. How is structural disadvantage shaped across childhood and early adolescence? Are these longitudinal experiences of structural disadvantage associated with poorer mental wellbeing for rangatahi Māori?
2. Is stronger cultural connectedness associated with better mental wellbeing for rangatahi Māori?
3. Does stronger cultural connectedness buffer the impacts of structural disadvantage for rangatahi Māori mental health?

In addition, the supplementary document included in this file provides additional information including descriptive information for the indicators of structural disadvantage for the rangatahi Māori cohort at 12-years, the methodology that underpinned the analyses in the main report, and additional information on the multivariable linear regression models for Depression symptoms, Anxiety symptoms, and Quality of life.