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Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

Background: There has been a psychopathology focus in disaster research examining adolescent mental health and wellbeing, but recently studies have begun to also examine wellbeing-related constructs. Although an increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder has been established in disaster-exposed adolescents, comparatively little is known about how disasters impact adolescent wellbeing, nor how factors within the post-disaster environment interact to influence holistic adolescent mental health and wellbeing. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the holistic mental health and wellbeing of adolescents living in an earthquake-struck city by considering a range of mental health and wellbeing indicators, as well as risk and protective factors hypothesised to influence mental health and wellbeing. The dual-factor model of mental health was used as a framework to guide this study. Method: A survey of Christchurch secondary school students was used to gather data about their subjective wellbeing, risk of low wellbeing, psychological distress, quality of life, exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences, social support from friends and family, school connectedness, and expectations about future quality of life. Results: A slim majority of students reported good subjective wellbeing (52.3%) and high current quality of life (56.4%), whereas a larger majority reported low risk of psychological distress (79%). An equal proportion of students reported high and low risk of low wellbeing. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the variables measured between adolescents who did and did not live through the Christchurch earthquakes. Regression analyses identified that school connectedness, social support from friends and family, and future expectations of quality of life significantly predicted subjective wellbeing, risk of low wellbeing, risk of psychological distress, and current quality of life. The number of Adverse Childhood Experiences significantly predicted only risk of psychological distress when the effects of other variables were controlled for. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that there is a low mean level of wellbeing and quality of life in this sample of adolescents living in a severely earthquake-affected community. School connectedness, social support from family and friends, and expectations about future quality of life were shown to significantly predict variance in subjective wellbeing, quality of life, and psychological distress. This suggests that there are social and environmental factors that can be targeted to improve holistic mental health and wellbeing in disaster-affected adolescents who have experienced high levels of trauma. Conclusions in this study are limited by the representativeness of the sample, the cross-sectional nature of the study, and potential sampling bias.

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

Background: There has been a psychopathology focus in disaster research examining adolescent mental health and wellbeing, but recently studies have begun to also examine wellbeing-related constructs. Although an increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder has been established in disaster-exposed adolescents, comparatively little is known about how disasters impact adolescent wellbeing, nor how factors within the post-disaster environment interact to influence holistic adolescent mental health and wellbeing. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the holistic mental health and wellbeing of adolescents living in an earthquake-struck city by considering a range of mental health and wellbeing indicators, as well as risk and protective factors hypothesised to influence mental health and wellbeing. The dual-factor model of mental health was used as a framework to guide this study. Method: A survey of Christchurch secondary school students was used to gather data about their subjective wellbeing, risk of low wellbeing, psychological distress, quality of life, exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences, social support from friends and family, school connectedness, and expectations about future quality of life. Results: A slim majority of students reported good subjective wellbeing (52.3%) and high current quality of life (56.4%), whereas a larger majority reported low risk of psychological distress (79%). An equal proportion of students reported high and low risk of low wellbeing. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the variables measured between adolescents who did and did not live through the Christchurch earthquakes. Regression analyses identified that school connectedness, social support from friends and family, and future expectations of quality of life significantly predicted subjective wellbeing, risk of low wellbeing, risk of psychological distress, and current quality of life. The number of Adverse Childhood Experiences significantly predicted only risk of psychological distress when the effects of other variables were controlled for. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that there is a low mean level of wellbeing and quality of life in this sample of adolescents living in a severely earthquake- affected community. School connectedness, social support from family and friends, and expectations about future quality of life were shown to significantly predict variance in subjective wellbeing, quality of life, and psychological distress. This suggests that there are social and environmental factors that can be targeted to improve holistic mental health and wellbeing in disaster-affected adolescents who have experienced high levels of trauma. Conclusions in this study are limited by the representativeness of the sample, the cross- sectional nature of the study, and potential sampling bias.

Videos, UC QuakeStudies

A video of Si and Gary (Simon Barnett and Gary McCormick) from MORE FM promoting the Five Ways to Wellbeing. In this video they talk about the importance of continuing to learn, and suggest ways to keep learning. The closing frames read, "Tried something a little different lately? Having a go at something new builds confidence and a healthy mind. For more tips on what makes us feel good, visit allright.org.nz."

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of Red Cross NZ volunteers in Cathedral Square holding All Right? corflute signs. The Christchurch Cathedral is in the background. The All Right? corflute signs are from phase 2 of the All Right? campaign, which sought to promote the 'Five Ways To Wellbeing' by asking simple, open-ended questions related to wellbeing. All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 4 November 2013 at 9.59am. This was captioned, "Our awesome Red Cross volunteers at the Square".

Videos, UC QuakeStudies

A video of Si and Gary (Simon Barnett and Gary McCormick) from MORE FM promoting the Five Ways to Wellbeing. In this video they talk about the importance of giving, and suggest ways to give. The closing frames read, "When did you last share a little love? The simple things we do often mean the most. For more tips on what makes us feel good, visit allright.org.nz."

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

In this paper we outline the process and outcomes of a multi-agency, multi-sector research collaboration, led by the Canterbury Earthquake Research Authority (CERA). The CERA Wellbeing Survey (CWS) is a serial, cross-sectional survey that is to be repeated six-monthly (in April and September) until the end of the CERA Act, in April 2016. The survey gathers self-reported wellbeing data to supplement the monitoring of the social recovery undertaken through CERA's Canterbury Wellbeing Index. Thereby informing a range of relevant agency decision-making, the CWS was also intended to provide the community and other sectors with a broad indication of how the population is tracking in the recovery. The primary objective was to ensure that decision-making was appropriately informed, with the concurrent aim of compiling a robust dataset that is of value to future researchers, and to the wider, global hazard and disaster research endeavor. The paper begins with an outline of both the Canterbury earthquake sequence, and the research context informing this collaborative project, before reporting on the methodology and significant results to date. It concludes with a discussion of both the survey results, and the collaborative process through which it was developed.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of All Right? advertisements on the back of a bus at the Red Bus depot on Ferry Road. The advertisement depicts an 'All Rightie' trimming a hedge and reads, "When did you last show a little love?" The posters are part of a set of advertisements which ask a question of the viewer, related to their mental health and wellbeing.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of Wainoni School pupils presenting the AWA Trails at a school assembly. The pupils are holding 'Five Ways to Wellbeing posters and AWA Trails material. The photograph was taken at the launch of the Wainoni AWA trail at Wainoni School. All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 2 September 2015 at 3:56pm.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image designed for use as a downloadable screensaver. The image depicts two 'All Righties' harvesting a pumpkin and carrots. The image reads, "What good things are you growing? Wonderful things happen when you put in a little bit of time".

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image designed for use as a downloadable screensaver. The image depicts two 'All Righties' knitting on a couch. The image reads, "When did you last share your hidden talents? Everyone wins when we pass on our skills and passions".

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image designed for use as a downloadable screensaver. The image depicts two 'All Righties' carrying a couch together. The image reads, "Shown a mate you care lately? Often the little things mean the most to our family and friends".

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image designed for use as a downloadable screensaver. The image depicts three 'All Righties' catching up over cakes. The image reads, "When did you last really catch up? Quality time with good friends can be the best medicine".