Contact between young people and their parents
Definition
The proportion of secondary school students aged 12–18 years who reported that most weeks they were able to spend enough time with Mum and/or Dad (or someone who acts as Mum and/or Dad).
Relevance
Healthy relationships are built through both the quantity and quality of time spent together. Young people having enough time with their parents is a proxy indicator of the extent to which those in need of care and nurturing receive appropriate support.
Current level
In 2001, 63 percent of male students and 61 percent of female students reported that most weeks they were able to spend enough time with at least one parent.
Figure SC5.1 Students reporting they spent enough time with their parent(s), by age and sex, 2001
Source: Adolescent Health Research Group (2003a)
Age and sex differences
There were no significant differences by sex in the proportion of students reporting they spent enough time with at least one parent. Girls at 15 years of age reported less often than younger boys and girls (12–13 years) that most weeks they were able to spend enough time with Mum or Dad.
Ethnic differences
Fifty-five percent of Māori students and 65 percent of European students reported that most weeks they were able to spend enough time with Mum and/or Dad. The difference was statistically significant after adjusting for age, sex and socio-economic differences between the two ethnic groups. Pacific students (60 percent), Asian students (65 percent) and students of "Other" ethnic groups (60 percent) showed no statistically significant difference from New Zealand European students after adjusting for age, sex and socio-economic differences.
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