TITLE:
Mental Health and Well-Being of First Year Pacific Students at a New Zealand University
AUTHORS:
Faafetai Sopoaga, Shyamala Nada-Raja, Tracie Leckie, Ari Samaranayaka, Sahra Covello
KEYWORDS:
Pacific Students, Higher Education, Well-Being, Mental Health, New Zealand
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.11 No.7,
July
27,
2023
ABSTRACT: The mental health and well-being of tertiary students is a growing area of
global concern. This prospective cohort study highlights the mental health and well-being
of 144 Pacific students (response rate 78%) in their first year of tertiary studies.
They are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in New Zealand. Participants completed
two online surveys in 2019, on their socio-demography, mental health and well-being,
and access to support services. Most participants (80% Survey 1, 74% Survey 2) well-being
scores indicated a positive quality of life, and a sense of belonging to the University,
where they were living (accommodation), and the wider local community. In contrast,
at least half (55%) reported poor mental health comprising moderate to severe symptoms
of psychological distress, anxiety and/or depression, which was significantly and
negatively associated with well-being. Nearly one fifth reported all three forms
of poor mental health. Current suicidal or self-harm thoughts were reported by 26% of the cohort; the
majority also reported concurrent poor mental health. Actual self-harm was reported
by 7%, who also met criteria for concurrent poor mental health. Overall, only one
third with poor mental health sought help from professional support services on
campus. Good mental health was associated with low current financial stress, a sense
of belonging to various groups, and self-identifying as having sole-Pacific ethnicity (one or more
Pacific ethnicities). These findings can inform higher education institutions and
government policies to improve Pacific tertiary students’ mental health and well-being
outcomes in New Zealand.