Psychological distress and diagnosed mood and anxiety disorders in Pacific adults: a pooled analysis of five consecutive New Zealand Health Survey years

Abstract

This article examines psychological distress and diagnosed mood and anxiety disorders in Pacific adults, comparing against non-Māori non-Pacific (nMnP) adults, and between Pacific subgroups. A sample of adults aged 15 years and over was pooled from five consecutive New Zealand Health Survey years spanning 2014/15–2018/19. Prevalence estimates of psychological distress and doctor-diagnosed mood and/or anxiety disorders were calculated for Pacific and nMnP adults, and Pacific subgroups defined by two sociodemographic factors: multiple ethnic affiliation (‘multi-ethnicity’) and years since migration to Aotearoa New Zealand. Risk ratios for comparative analyses were generated using log-binomial regression modelling. Mental health inequities were evident in Pacific adults (n = 4,335) as they were more likely than nMnP (n = 50,397) to experience psychological distress, but less likely to have ever had a diagnosed mood and/or anxiety disorder. Within-Pacific differences were also visible, with higher rates of diagnosed mood and/or anxiety disorders seen in both multi-ethnic and New Zealand-born Pacific adults, and lower rates in Pacific migrants. Living for a longer time in Aotearoa New Zealand appeared to be associated with an increased risk of diagnosed mood and anxiety disorders.