Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Publications by topic
- » Overview/ summary of findings
- » Youth access to healthcare and services
- » Cultural identity and youth wellbeing
- » Youth mental health
- » Youth sexual health
- » Youth substance use (tobacco, vaping, alcohol and drugs)
- » Youth gambling
- » Youth with disabilities, chronic illness and pain
- » Youth exposure to violence and bullying
- » Youth activities, exercise and nutrition
- » Community and geography wellbeing
- » The influence of socioeconomics and poverty on youth
- » The influence of discrimination and racism on youth
- » Survey methodology and tools
Overview/ summary of findings

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2019 – Youth19 Overview webinar: Overview of 2019 survey results
2019 – Youth19 Taitokerau/Northland webinar: Overview of youth results from Taitokerau/Northland
Clark, T., Fleming, T., Bullen, P., Crengle, S., Denny, S., Dyson, B., et al. (2013). Health and well-being of secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 49(11), 925-934. doi:10.1111/jpc.12427 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24251658
Noel, H., Denny, S., Farrant, B., Rossen, F., Teevale, T., Clark, T., Fleming, T., Bullen, P., Sheridan, J., Fortune, S. (2013). Clustering of adolescent health concerns: A latent class analysis of school students in New Zealand. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, Vol 49, 935-941. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpc.12397/abstract

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Denny, S., Robinson, E., Utter, J., Fleming, T., Grant, S., Milfont, T., Crengle, S., Ameratunga, S., Clark, T. (2011) Do schools influence student risk behaviours and emotional health symptoms. Journal of Adolescent Health. 48(3), 259‐267.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21338897
Denny, S., Grant, S., Utter, J., Robinson, E., Fleming, T., Milfont, T., Crengle, S., Clark, T., Ameratunga, S., Dixon, R., Merry, S., & Watson, P. (2011) The health and wellbeing of New Zealand youth who attend secondary school: What has changed from 2001 to 2007? Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 47(4), 191-197
http://www.srknowledge.org.nz/research-completed/health-and-well-being-of-young-people-who-attend-secondary-school-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-what-has-changed-from-2001-to-2007/

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Adolescent Health Research Group (2003) A health profile of New Zealand youth who attend secondary school. New Zealand Medical Journal 116(1171) http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/116-1171/380/

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Youth access to healthcare and services
Denny S, Howie H, Grant S, Galbreath R, Utter J, Fleming T, Clark T. (2017) Characteristics of school-based health services associated with youth mental health outcomes. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy (accepted 25th May 2017). https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819617716196
Denny, S., Farrant, B., Robinson, E., Cosgriff, J., Harte, M., Cameron, T., Johnson, R., McNair, V., Utter, J., Crengle, S., Fleming, T., Ameratunga, S., Sheridan, E. (2013) Forgone health care among secondary school students in New Zealand. Journal of Primary Health care, (5)1; pages 11-18. https://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/assets/documents/Publications/JPHC/March-2013/JPHCOSPDennyMarch2013.pdf
Teevale, T., Denny, S., Percival, T., Fleming, T. (2013) Pacific secondary school students' access to primary health care in New Zealand. The New Zealand Medical Journal, Vol 126, No 1375. http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/126-1375/5680/

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Denny, S., Farrant, B., Cosgriff, J., Harte, M., Cameron, T., Johnson, R., McNair, V., Utter, J., Crengle, S., Fleming, T., Ameratunga, S., Sheridan, J., & Robinson, E. (2012) Access to private and confidential healthcare among secondary school students in New Zealand. Journal of Adolescent Health 51(3), 285-291 http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(11)00709-9/abstract
Areai, D.M., Thomson, W.M., Foster Page, L.A., Denny, S., Crengle, S., Clark, T.C., Ameratunga, S.N., Koopu, P.I. (2011) Self‐reported oral health, dental self‐care and dental service use among New Zealand secondary school students: findings from the Youth07 study. New Zealand Dental Journal. 107(4), 121‐126. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22338203
Copland, R.J., Denny, S.J., Robinson, E.M., Crengle, S., Ameratunga, S., Dixon, R. (2011) Self‐Reported Pregnancy and Access to Primary Health Care Among Sexually Experienced New Zealand High School Students. Journal of Adolescent Health. 49(5), 518‐524 http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(11)00118-2/abstract
Cultural identity and youth wellbeing
Clark, T. C., Le Grice, J., Moselen, E., Fleming, T., Crengle, S., Tiatia‐Seath, J., & Lewycka, S. (2018). Health and wellbeing of Māori secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 42(6), 553-561. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00319/full
Williams, A. D., Clark, T. C., & Lewycka, S. (2018). The associations between cultural identity and mental health outcomes for indigenous Māori youth in New Zealand. Frontiers in public health, 6, 319. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00319/full
Clark, T. C., Robinson, E., Crengle, S., Fleming, T., Ameratunga, S., Denny, S. J., ... & Saewyc, E. (2011). Risk and protective factors for suicide attempt among indigenous Maori youth in New Zealand: The role of family connection. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 7(1), 16. https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/ijih/article/view/12350
Youth mental health
Fleming, T., Tiatia-Seath, J., Peiris-John, R., Sutcliffe, K., Archer, D., Bavin, L., Crengle, S., & Clark, T. (2020). Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey, Initial Findings: Hauora Hinengaro / Emotional and Mental Health. The Youth19 Research Group, The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Chan S., Denny, S., Fleming T., Fortune S., Peiris-John R. and Dyson B. (2017). Exposure to suicide behaviour and individual risk of self-harm: Findings from a nationally representative New Zealand high school survey. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Published Online June 1, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867417710728
Canning J, Denny S, Bullen P, Clark T. Rossen F. (2017). Influence of positive development opportunities on student wellbeing, depression and suicide risk: The New Zealand Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey 2012. Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online. Published online 16 March 2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083X.2017.1300924
Chiang SY, Fleming T, Lucassen M, Fenaughty J, Clark T, Denny S (2016). Mental Health Status of Double Minority Adolescents: Findings from National Cross-Sectional Health Surveys. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2016 Nov 19:1-2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0530-z
Denny, S., Lucassen, M.F.G., Stuart, J., Fleming, T., Bullen, P., Peiris-John, R.,Rossen, F. & Utter, J. (2016). The association between supportive high school environments and depressive symptoms and suicidality among sexual minority students. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25469988/
Fleming, T., Clark, T., Denny, S., Bullent, P., Crengle, S., Peiris-John, R., Robinson, E., Rossen, F., Sheridan, J., Lucassen, M. (2013). Stability and change in the mental health of New Zealand secondary school students 2007–2012: Results from the national adolescent health surveys. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. http://anp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/11/28/0004867413514489.full
Clark, T., Robinson, E., Crengle, S., Fleming, T., Ameratunga, S., Denny, S., Bearinger, L., Sieving, R., Saewyc, E. (2011) Risk and protective factors for suicide attempt among indigenous Māori youth in New Zealand: The role of family connection as a moderating variable. Journal of Aboriginal Health. 7(1), 16‐31. http://www.naho.ca/jah/english/jah07_01/07_01_02_maori-suicide-risk.pdf
Clark, T. C., Robinson, E., Crengle, S., Fleming, T., Ameratunga, S., Denny, S. J., ... & Saewyc, E. (2011). Risk and protective factors for suicide attempt among indigenous Maori youth in New Zealand: The role of family connection. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 7(1), 16. https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/ijih/article/view/12350
Lucassen, M., Merry, S., Robinson, E., Denny, S., Clark, T., Ameratunga, S., Crengle, S., Rossen, F. (2011) Sexual attraction, depression, self‐harm, suicidality and help‐seeking behaviour in New Zealand secondary school students. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 45(5), 376‐383 https://psychiatry-training.wiki.otago.ac.nz/images/e/e7/Lucassen11.pdf
Fleming, T., Merry, S., Robinson, E., Denny, S., Watson, P. (2007) Self-reported suicide attempts and associated risk and protective factors among secondary school students in New Zealand. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 41(3), 213-22 https://psychiatry-training.wiki.otago.ac.nz/images/7/77/

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Youth sexual health
Clark, T. C., Lucassen, M. F. G., Bullen, P., Denny, S. J., Fleming, T. M., Robinson, E. M., & Rossen, F. V. (2014). The Health and Well-Being of Transgender High School Students: Results From the New Zealand Adolescent Health Survey (Youth'12). Journal of Adolescent Health, (0) 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.11.008 (Open Access - free to access this article)
Lucassen, M.F.G., Clark, T.C., Denny, S.J., Fleming, T.M., Rossen, F.V., Sheridan, J., Bullen, P. & Robinson, E.M. (2014). What has changed from 2001 to 2012 for sexual minority youth in New Zealand? Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpc.12727/pdf
Saewyc, E., Clark, T. C., Barney, L., Brunanski, D., & Homma, Y. (2014). Enacted stigma and HIV risk behaviours among sexual minority Indigenous youth in Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. Pimatisiwin: A Journal of Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health, 11(3), 411-420. http://www.pimatisiwin.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/06SaewycClark.pdf
Clark, T. C., Crengle, S., Sheridan, J. L., Rowe, D., & Robinson, E. (2013). Factors associated with consistent contraception and condom use among Māori secondary school students in New Zealand. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, online. doi:10.1111/jpc.12450

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Denny, S., Robinson, E., Lawler, C., Bagshaw, S., Farrant, B., Bell, F., Dawson, D., Nicholson, D., Hart, M., Fleming, T., Ameratunga, S., Clark, T., Kekus, M., Utter, J. (2012) Association between Availability and Quality of Health Services in Schools and Reproductive Health Outcomes Amond Students: A Multilevel Observational Study. American Journal of Public Health, Online. http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300775
Copland, R.J., Denny, S.J., Robinson, E.M., Crengle, S., Ameratunga, S., Dixon, R. (2011) Self‐Reported Pregnancy and Access to Primary Health Care Among Sexually Experienced New Zealand High School Students. Journal of Adolescent Health. 49(5), 518‐524 http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(11)00118-2/abstract
Youth substance use (tobacco, vaping, alcohol and drugs)

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Fleming, T., Ball, J., Peiris-John, R., Crengle, S., Bavin, L., Tiatia-Seath, J., Archer, D., & Clark, T. (2020). Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey, Initial Findings: Substance Use. Youth19 Research Group, The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Jackson N, Denny S, Sheridan J, Zhao J, Ameratunga S (2016). The role of neighborhood disadvantage, physical disorder, and collective efficacy in adolescent alcohol use: a multilevel path analysis. Health & place. Sep 30;41:24-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.07.005
Clark, T. C., Robinson, E., Crengle, S., Sheridan, J. L., Jackson, N., & Ameratunga, S. (2013). Binge drinking among Māori secondary school students in New Zealand: associations with source, exposure and perceptions of alcohol use. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1370), 70-84. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23474513
Teevale, T., Denny, S., Nosa, V., Sheridan, J. (2013). Predictors of cigarette use amongst Pacific youth in New Zealand. Harm Reduction Journal, 2013. http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/10/1/25
Di Cosmo, C., Milfont, T. L., Robinson, E., Denny, S. J., Ward, C., Crengle, S., & Ameratunga, S. N. Immigrant status and acculturation influence substance use among New Zealand youth (2011) Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 35(5), 434‐441 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00758.x/full

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Youth gambling
Rossen, F. V., Clark, T., Denny, S. J., Fleming, T. M., Peiris-John, R., Robinson, E., & Lucassen, M. F. (2015). Unhealthy Gambling Amongst New Zealand Secondary School Students: An Exploration of Risk and Protective Factors. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1-16. DOI 10.1007/s11469-015-9562-1

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Youth with disabilities, chronic illness and pain
Peiris-John, R., Ameratunga, S., Lee, A., Al-Ani, H., Fleming, T., & Clark, T. (2015). Adolescents with disability report higher rates of injury but lower rates of receiving care: findings from a national school-based survey in New Zealand. Injury Prevention. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2015-041636
Youth exposure to violence and bullying
Denny, S., Peterson, E. R., Stuart, J., Utter, J., Bullen, P., Fleming, T., . . . Milfont, T. (2014). Bystander Intervention, Bullying, and Victimization: A Multilevel Analysis of New Zealand High Schools. Journal of School Violence, 1-28. 10.1080/15388220.2014.910470 http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/AQC7pTY7D2jFPYJ85ZkS/full

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Youth activities, exercise and nutrition
Puloka, ‘I, Utter J, Denny S, Fleming T. Dietary behaviours and the mental wellbeing of New Zealand adolescents. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. Published Online 10 April 2017. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13524
Utter J, Denny S, Peiris-John R, Moselen E, Dyson B, Clark T. (2017). Family meals and adolescent emotional wellbeing: findings from a national survey. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 2017;49:67-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.09.002
van Lier, L.E., Utter, J., Denny, S., Lucassen, M., Dyson, B. and Clark, T. (2017). Home Gardening and the Health and Well-Being of Adolescents. Health Promotion Practice, 18(1), pp.34-43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839916673606
Utter, J., Denny, S., & Dyson, B. (2016). School gardens and adolescent nutrition and BMI: Results from a national, multilevel study. Preventive Medicine, 83, 1-4. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.11.022
Utter J, Denny S, Lucassen M, Dyson B. Who’s teaching the kids to cook? Results from a nationally representative survey of New Zealand secondary school students. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health. Published Online: 8 October 2016. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2016-0064
Utter, J., Denny, S., Lucassen, M., & Dyson, B. (2015). Adolescent Cooking Abilities and Behaviors: Associations With Nutrition and Emotional Well-Being. Journal of nutrition education and behavior. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1499404615006594
Utter, J., Denny, S., Lucassen, M. & Dyson, B. (2015, Epub ahead of print). Cooking and the health and wellbeing of adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2015.08.016
Utter, J., Denny, S., Teevale, T., Peiris-John, R., & Dyson, B. (2015). Prevalence and Recent Trends in Overweight, Obesity, and Severe Obesity among New Zealand Adolescents. Childhood Obesity 2015, 11(5): 585-589. doi:10.1089/chi.2014.0151.
Farrant, B., Utter, J., Ameratunga, S., Clark, T., Fleming, T., Denny, S. (2013) Prevalence of severe obseity among New Zealand adolescents and associations with health risk behaviours and emotional wellbeing. Journal of Pediatrics. http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/23357187
Utter, J., Denny, S., Percival, T., Crengle, S., Ameratunga, S., Dixon, R., Teevale, T., Hall, A. (2012) Prevalence of weight‐related concerns and behaviours among New Zealand young people. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health48(11), 1021-8
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1440-1754.2012.02587.x/abstract
Utter, J., Denny, S., Robinson, E., Fleming, T., Ameratunga, S., Grant, S. (2012) Family meals among New Zealand young people: relationships with eating behaviours and body mass index. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 45(1), 3-11.
http://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(12)00396-X/abstract
Utter, J., Denny, S., Robinson, E., Teevale, T., Crengle, S., Ameratunga, S., & Fleming, T. (2012) Food security concerns among young people: Impact on eating behaviours and weight status. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition7(1), 101-111.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19320248.2012.649675#.U4e8SZSSwlY
Wood, A., Utter, J., Robinson, E., Ameratunga, S., Fleming, T., Denny, S. (2011) Body weight satisfaction among New Zealand adolescents: Findings from a national survey. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health. 24(2), 161-167
http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/ijamh.2012.24.issue-2/ijamh.2012.024/ijamh.2012.024.xml
Utter, J., Denny, S., Grant, S., Robinson, E., Ameratunga, S., Fleming, T. (2011) Eating together at mealtimes: the role of family meals in the health and wellbeing of young people in New Zealand. Families Commission Research Fund, Report No 6/11.
http://www.familiescommission.org.nz/publications/research-reports/eating-together-at-mealtimes
Utter, J., Denny, S., Robinson, E., Ameratunga, S., Milfont, T.L. (2011) Social and physical contexts of schools and neighborhoods: Associations with physical activity among young people. American Journal of Public Health 101(9), 1690‐1695
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300171
Utter, J., Denny, S., Crengle, S., Ameratunga, S., Robinson, E., Clark, T., Percival, T., Maddison, R. (2010) Overweight among New Zealand adolescents: Associations with ethnicity and deprivation. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity.5(6), 461‐466.
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/17477160903568439
Community and geography wellbeing
Canning J, Denny S, Bullen P, Clark T. Rossen F. (2017). Influence of positive development opportunities on student wellbeing, depression and suicide risk: The New Zealand Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey 2012. Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online. Published online 16 March 2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083X.2017.1300924
Jackson N, Denny S, Sheridan J, Zhao J, Ameratunga S (2016). The role of neighborhood disadvantage, physical disorder, and collective efficacy in adolescent alcohol use: a multilevel path analysis. Health & place. Sep 30;41:24-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.07.005
The influence of socioeconomics and poverty on youth

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Denny, S., S. Lewycka, J. Utter, T. Fleming, R. Peiris-John, J. Sheridan, F. Rossen, D. Wynd, T. Teevale, P. Bullen and T. Clark. (2016) The association between socioeconomic deprivation and secondary school students’ health: findings from a latent class analysis of a national adolescent health survey. International Journal for Equity in Health 15(1): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0398-5
Utter, J., Denny, S., Crengle, S., Ameratunga, S., Clark, T., Maddison, R., & Percival, T. (2011) Socio‐economic differences in eating‐ related attitudes, behaviours and environments of adolescents. Public Health Nutrition. 14(4), 629‐634. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20576201
The influence of discrimination and racism on youth
Chiang SY, Fleming T, Lucassen M, Fenaughty J, Clark T, Denny S (2016). Mental Health Status of Double Minority Adolescents: Findings from National Cross-Sectional Health Surveys. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2016 Nov 19:1-2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0530-z
Survey methodology and tools

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Denny, S., Milfont, T., Utter, J., Robinson, E., Ameratunga, S., Merry, S., Fleming, T., & Watson P. (2008) Hand-Held Internet Tablets for School-Based Data Collection. BMC Research Notes, 1(52), 1-4. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/1/52
Milfont, T.L., Merry, S., Robinson, E.M., Denny, S., Crengle, S., & Ameratunga, S.N. (2008) Evaluating the short form of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression scale in New Zealand adolescents. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 42(11), 950‐954. http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00048670802415343
Milfont, T., Denny, S., Ameratunga, S., Robinson, E., Merry, S. (2008) Burnout and Wellbeing: Testing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory in New Zealand Teachers. Social Indicators Research, 89(1), 169-177. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11205-007-9229-9

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