New research will examine the factors affecting the mental health and wellbeing of young Pacific male elite athletes.
Mental wellbeing in sports is growing in importance, as are the numbers of young Pacific men pursuing careers in professional sports. Pacific athletes make up more than 40 per cent of the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) competition and 60 per cent of the youth players in Auckland’s local rugby league club competitions. Increasingly, however, young Pacific athletes have been linked to depression and suicide in the media.
University of Auckland student Caleb Marsters has received a Pacific health research PhD scholarship from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) to look into some of the on and off-field issues affecting the mental health of young Pacific male athletes (16 to 24 years) participating at New Zealand representative level in various sports, including rugby league, rugby union, basketball, boxing, soccer, and mixed martial arts.
“The recent suicides of young Pacific male athletes in rugby league circles in both New Zealand and Australia, and the increasing number of Pacific athletes speaking out about their own battles with depression, suggests that this group are at ‘increased-risk’ of experiencing adverse mental health outcomes and may have culturally distinct factors that impact on their mental wellbeing,” says Mr Marsters.
One of the key parts of Mr Marsters’ study will involve identifying triggers and potential anchors or support for mental health that these athletes use – or would like to access – to combat the pressures of playing at elite levels. The study will capture the perceptions of the athletes as well as coaches, managers, and sports administrators.
“The identification of some of these factors may contribute towards developing coping strategies and help-seeking frameworks to support the mental health and wellbeing of a number of our emerging young Pacific athletes. This is especially important as the number of young Pacific males pursuing careers in professional sports is on the rise,” says Mr Marsters.
This new HRC-funded PhD study will build on Mr Marsters’ thesis for his Master of Public Health on young Pacific male athletes and positive mental health wellbeing, which he says has received strong support from the Pacific community.
“Mothers, fathers, siblings, friends, and extended family members of young Pacific male athletes were all quickly in contact with me to discuss this issue, pass on contact information of potential participants, and show their support for the study and the cause.”
Mr Marsters says key organisations in the Pacific community such as Le Va, the Vodafone Warriors, Auckland Rugby League, Auckland Rugby Union, and the New Zealand Rugby Union also provided great support for his thesis and were keen to meet up to discuss this topic and potential ventures moving forward.
“Most importantly, this network expressed the need for further research in this area and their willingness to be involved and provide support for future research projects on this topic. Now with this HRC funding, I look forward to addressing this need and building upon the strong network that I’ve established,” says Mr Marsters.
HRC Chief Executive Professor Kath McPherson says the HRC is proud to support the development of Mr Marsters’ health research career in a relatively unexplored area of high need.
“Caleb’s research will help advance positive health and wellbeing outcomes for young Pacific men and their families both on – and more importantly – off the field. It will also significantly contribute to the areas of sports psychology, health management, and youth, mental and men’s health,” says Professor McPherson.
r Marsters’ scholarship is one of 23 Pacific career development awards in the HRC’s latest funding round. See below for the full list of Pacific career development award recipients or to read lay summaries of the research projects, go to our research repository and filter for ‘Pacific Health Research,’ and ‘2017’.
2017 HRC Pacific career development awards
Pacific Emerging Researcher First Grants
Dr Siautu Alefaio-Tugia, Massey University
Curbing the tide of violence! Exploring a Pacific psychological faith-quotient
36 months, $150,000
Dr Sione Vaka, Massey University
Effectiveness of Ūloa model
36 months, $149,559
Pacific Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowships
Dr Jesse Kokaua, University of Otago, Dunedin
Health implications from education for Pasifika people and their families
36 months, $329,116
Dr Tamasin Taylor, AUT University
Pacific Island people’s experiences of bariatric surgery health care engagement
36 months, $324,665
Pacific Health Research PhD Scholarships
Miss Julienne Faletau, the University of Auckland
Text messaging support for Tongan people with pre-diabetes
36 months, $108,645
Mrs Sesimani Havea, Massey University
Indigenous approaches to family restoration and wellbeing
48 months, $64,492
Mr Caleb Marsters, the University of Auckland
‘Run it straight!’ – Pasifika men, mental wellbeing and elite sports
36 months, $110,909
Ms Namrata Prasad, the University of Auckland
The epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in New Zealand children
36 months, $99,550
Miss Siobhan Tu’akoi, the University of Auckland
Non-communicable disease risk in Rarotongan adolescents
36 months, $110,834
Mr Benjamin Worth, University of Waikato
Bringing the Pacific to health communication campaigns in Aotearoa
36 months, $110,400
Pacific Health Masters Scholarships
Miss Heimata Herman, the University of Auckland
To investigate health-related behaviours of Rarotongan adolescents
12 months, $20,600
Miss Sarah McLean, the University of Auckland
Depression in young Samoan females: The views of mental health service providers
12 months, $20,600
Mrs Mayor Pokino, the University of Auckland
Attitudes, knowledge, behaviours and health in Rarotongan adolescents
12 months, $20,600
Pacific Health Research Summer Studentships
Miss Toni Anitelea, University of Otago
Follow up of hip and knee arthroplasty patients returned to GP
10 weeks, $5,000
Miss Tumanu Futi, University of Otago
Effects of uric acid on beta cell function
10 weeks, $5,000
Ms Sarah Kapeli, the University of Auckland
Social support among Pacific peoples
10 weeks, $5,000
Miss Mary Kivalu, University of Otago
A review of New Zealand district health board policies about translation services
10 weeks, $5,000
Miss Brooke Marsters, University of Otago
Antibiotic prophylaxis and the progression of acute rheumatic fever to rheumatic heart disease
10 weeks, $5,000
Miss Johanna Nee-Nee, University of Otago
Raising awareness or creating confusion? Media coverage of cancer issues in New Zealand
10 weeks, $5,000
Ms Meaalofa Pupi
University of Otago
The economic cost of diabetes among Pacific Islanders
$5,000
3 months
Miss Ashleigh Raikuna, University of Otago
Effects of severe early childhood caries on Pacific Island families
10 weeks, $5,000
Mr Tevita Vaipuna, University of Otago
Does sleep differ according to ethnicity in children?
10 weeks, $5,000
Pacific Knowledge Translation Grant
Dr Vili Nosa, the University of Auckland
A review of communicable diseases in the Pacific region
6 months, $5,000