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Ethnic Differences in Adolescent Mental Health Problems: Examining Early Risk Factors and Deviant Peer Affiliation

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Abstract

Using life-course longitudinal data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS), we examined ethnic differences in rates of psychiatric disorder among New Zealand adolescents, comparing New Zealand Māori to their European peers. The CHDS includes a large birth cohort of New Zealand children who have been regularly assessed throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Ethnicity (New Zealand Māori vs. non-Māori) was assessed at age 14 years. Internalizing and externalizing disorders were assessed at age 15, 16, and 18 years. A diverse range of risk factors were included to test if differences in mental health difficulties were explained by greater exposure to early life-course challenges. We found significant differences in rates of mental disorder during adolescence between New Zealand Māori and non-Māori, but these differences were largely explained by early developmental challenges and adolescent peer affiliations. Differences across the two ethnic groups in rates of internalizing disorders were explained by the increased exposure amongst Māori to socioeconomic disadvantage during childhood, while differences in externalizing disorders were explained by greater exposure amongst Māori to childhood family adversity and deviant peer affiliation during adolescence. The findings point to the significant influence of cumulative early life-course risk factors in accounting for the ethnic differences between Māori and non-Māori in the development of adolescent internalizing and externalizing disorders.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the National Child Health Research Foundation, the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation and the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

Author Contributions

M.G.: wrote an expanded version of the present study as part of her Masters thesis in Child and Family Psychology at the University of Canterbury. J.B., M.F., S.M., and D.F. provided supervision for the thesis. J.B.: Re-analysed the data and re-wrote the methods and results for this article. M.F.: revised the introduction and discussion from the original thesis. S.M. collaborated in the design and writing of the study, particularly in reference to Māori cultural considerations and implications. D.F. collaborated in the design, analyses, and writing as director of the CHDS when this study was conducted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and Te Rū Rangahau Māori Research Laboratory, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Whitney Mihiroa Gillies

  2. Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Joseph M. Boden

  3. School of Educational Studies and Leadership, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Myron D. Friesen

  4. Te Oranga Human Development and Movement, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Sonja Macfarlane

  5. Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

    David M. Fergusson

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  1. Whitney Mihiroa Gillies
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Correspondence to Joseph M. Boden.

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Gillies, W.M., Boden, J.M., Friesen, M.D. et al. Ethnic Differences in Adolescent Mental Health Problems: Examining Early Risk Factors and Deviant Peer Affiliation. J Child Fam Stud 26, 2889–2899 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0792-7

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