Citation

Canning J, Denny S, Bullen P, Clark T, Rossen F. Kōtuitui 2017; 12(2): 119-133.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Royal Society of New Zealand, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1177083X.2017.1300924

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study explores the association between neighbourhood opportunities for Positive Youth Development (PYD) and adolescent depressive symptoms, well-being and suicide risk. A 2-stage random sample of 8500 students(years 9-13) from 91 high schools from throughout New Zealand was collected in 2012. Analyses were restricted to neighbourhoods with more than 10 students resulting in a final sample of 5191 adolescents within 266 neighbourhoods. Multilevel models linked data from neighbourhoods to individual student data to explore the association between neighbourhood opportunities for PYD and student depressive symptoms, well-being and suicide risk. Neighbourhoods with a high proportion of students involved in activities that help others, attend church groups, or participate in sports teams were associated with significantly increased well-being among students living in these neighbourhoods. No neighbourhood-level measures were found to significantly alter rates of depressive symptoms or suicide risk.

FINDINGS suggest that providing neighbourhood opportunities for PYD may enhance adolescent well-being. © 2017 The Royal Society of New Zealand.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; health; neighbourhood; Positive Youth Development; well-being