Parenting Council Research Clearinghouse: Library "N"
Neighbourhood Environments That Support Families
Author:
Dr Karen Witten, Liane Penney, Fuafiva Faalau And Victoria Jensen
Date:
2006
Published by:
Families Commission
Location:
New Zealand
Abstract:
The report highlights results from a research project entitled The Place of Caregiving: Community environments, participation, health and wellbeing. The project, undertaken in Waitakere City and North Shore City in the Auckland region, explored the relationship between characteristics of the natural and built environments of selected neighbourhoods, and the daily experiences of parents living and raising young children in these neighbourhoods. Study findings that relate to the attributes of urban neighbourhoods that support families are presented.
The rationale for the study emanated from emerging literature in the neighbourhoods and health field, which suggests that variation in health outcomes between areas can be explained by differences between the characteristics of places, as well as differences in the characteristics of the people who live in those places. Neighbourhood variation in access to services and amenities has been identified as one of a number of possible pathways through which neighbourhoods influence health-related social practices.
The present study aimed to draw together the international and national scholarly literature and
New Zealand
expert knowledge on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and families. It is hoped that this document will usefully inform the work of the Families Commission in the area of ICTs. Twelve key informants including academics, consultants, government advisors, and researchers were asked about new ICTs and families. They were asked about the opportunities and risks, issues unique to
New Zealand
families and for suggestions on directions for future research.
High-quality early childhood care and education (ECE) for pre-schoolers is a key to achieving good outcomes for children and to ensuring parents can balance their family responsibilities and paid work.
In 2006/07 the Families Commission consulted migrant and refugee families about their needs. The Families Commission was particularly interested in filling gaps in both existing research evidence and planned research initiatives on the ECE needs of migrant and refugee families as part of its Even up programme of work, aimed at supporting changes to make life easier for families.
New Spaces and Possibilities: the Adjustment to Parenthood for New
Migrant
Mothers
Author:
Ruth
DeSouza
Date:
2006
Published by:
Families Commission
Location:
New Zealand
Abstract:
Forty migrant women were interviewed about their experiences of the adjustment to parenthood in a new country in order to ascertain their support needs. Early motherhood was chosen as a focus because migration policy selects healthy women and therefore the maternity experience is often when many migrant women are first initiated into the
New Zealand
health system. In consultation with Plunket, five groups were chosen for the study; three were from the largest Asian communities, Chinese, Indian and Korean (Chinese make up 44 percent of all Asians, Indians 26 percent and Koreans 8 percent). Two other new migrant groups were also selected for inclusion for different reasons. European migrant women were chosen because they are the largest migrant group yet little is known about their needs. These are assumed to be similar to those of other Pakeha because of their familiarity with language and systems. Arab Muslim women were chosen because their faith and cultural needs are not well understood. One focus group was undertaken for each group.
AUT
University
’s Centre for Asian and Migrant Health Research and the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society conducted the research together in March 2006.
In 2008, Colmar Brunton was commissioned by the Families Commission to undertake research that looks at the experiences of separated parents and the financial and care arrangements for their children. This research was intended to inform further work planned by the Families Commission on this topic and was not intended to be published as a stand-alone report.
However, the Families Commission has made this report available because the findings may be of interest to other organisations and researchers. The findings are best considered alongside the broader work undertaken by the Families Commission in 2009 on the issues that separating parents face when making care, contact and financial arrangements for their children. To protect the identities of separated parents, the quantitative survey was carried out using an anonymous paper-based questionnaire methodology. Due to the limitations of this methodology, this report cannot provide a comprehensive view of all families’ experiences and their child support arrangements.
This work recognises that care, contact and financial arrangements are interconnected, vary according to different circumstances and change over time.
New Zealand
Cultural Norms of Parenting and Childcare and How These Relate to Labour Force Participation Decisions
Author:
Mervyl McPherson
Date:
2006
Published by:
Families Commission
Location:
New Zealand
Abstract:
The aim of this qualitative study of 40 New Zealand mothers is to explore their ideas, beliefs and values around the roles of mothers, parents and formal childcare in meeting the care needs of children, and how that relates to decisions about labour force participation for mothers. The study also provides information on the difficulties experienced by mothers in this study in combining paid work and parenting, and their perceptions of the roles of the Government and employers in relation to other provisions to assist parents in combining their dual roles of parent and paid worker.
New Zealanders' Satisfaction with Family Relationships and Parenting
Author:
Jeremy Robertson: Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families,
Victoria
University
(with Assistance from Relationship Services
New Zealand
)
Date:
2006
Published by:
Families Commission
Location:
New Zealand
Abstract:
This report presents the results of a national survey of New Zealanders’ relationships. The survey was conducted for Relationship Services, in order to provide them with information about how New Zealanders viewed their relationships, the satisfying and challenging aspects of those relationships and how relationship problems are dealt with. It also asked about experiences of parenting and, for those who were not in a current relationship, the positive aspects and the drawbacks of being single. The results indicate that a number of different relationships, both with immediate family, extended family and friends, were important to most people. These relationships were reported to be very satisfying, particularly those with a partner and with children. There were some interesting differences in rating of relationship importance and satisfaction by gender and ethnicity. Women rated most relationships as more important than men did, and also reported greater satisfaction with many of them. Maori rated relationships with extended family as more important, and in some cases more satisfying, than New Zealand Europeans.
Non-heterosexual youth - a profile of their health and wellbeing: data from Youth2000
Author:
Le Brun, C., Robinson, E., Warren, H., Watson, P.
Date:
2005
Published by:
The University of Auckland
Location:
New Zealand
Abstract:
The relationship between adolescents and their parents is very significant to healthy youth development. The survey shows that the majority of non-heterosexual students believe their parents (or someone who acts as their parent) care about them, although many report that they did not feel close to their parents and they would like to have more time with them. Many nonheterosexual students reported that they had lied to their parents or people responsible for them about who they were with and their whereabouts. This report provides a snapshot of non-heterosexual students who attend secondary school and covers areas such as family, community, emotional health, substance abuse and safety.
