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Health, wellbeing and socioeconomic status in older Pasifika peoples

Year:
2011
Duration:
3 months
Approved budget:
$5,000.00
Researchers:
Ms Fialupe Lotoala
Health issue:
Ageing
Proposal type:
Pacific Health Summer Studentship
Lay summary
This is a Summer Studentship application. The applicant is from Tuvalu and is completing a Masters degree in Finance. In the application, the applicant explains that membership of different ethnic groups has been associated with differential health outcomes in New Zealand (e.g. Blakely, Tobias, Robson et al., 2005). In particular, Pasifika people have lower life-expectancy than non-Maori, non-Pasifika peoples (Ministry of Health, 1999). Therefore disparities in health between different ethnic groups have been closely linked to differences in socio-economic status (SES). It is generally accepted in New Zealand that SES explains a large proportion of the differences in health outcomes between ethnic groups (Blakely et al., 2005; Sporle, Pearce & Davis, 2002). The applicant draws attention to New Zealand’s older population and emphasises that this population is increasing and there is limited research on the health and wellbeing of Pasifika people in New Zealand. The research study aims to identify and understand factors that keep older Pasifika people in New Zealand happy, healthy and independent and will involve a secondary analysis of data from the HWR (Health, Work and Retirement) study which was funded by the HRC but is now funded by FoRST.