Author(s)

Faafetai Sopoaga^1*, Shyamala Nada-Raja¹, Tracie Leckie¹, Ari Samaranayaka², Sahra Covello¹

¹Va’a o Tautai - Centre for Pacific Health, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
²Biostatistics Centre, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

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.

Pacific Students, Higher Education, Well-Being, Mental Health, New Zealand

Sopoaga, F. , Nada-Raja, S. , Leckie, T. , Samaranayaka, A. and Covello, S. (2023) Mental Health and Well-Being of First Year Pacific Students at a New Zealand University. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 11, 365-381. doi: 10.4236/jss.2023.117026.