Pacific Islands Families Study
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Islands Families Study is a long-running
, cohort study
of 1398 children (and their parents) of Pacific Islands origin born in Auckland, New Zealand during the year 2000.
The cohort of participants was selected from babies born between 15 March 2000 and 17 December 2000 at Middlemore Hospital
with at least one parent identifying as having Pacific Islands origin.
The three overall objectives of the PIF Study are:
The study has collected data from mothers, fathers, children and teachers. Data collection phases have occurred at 6 weeks after birth, 12 months, 24 months, 4 years, 6 years and 9 years.
The study is administered within the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at AUT University.
Major funding has been provided by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
and the Health Research Council of New Zealand
.
Data were collected from 1376 families in relation to 1398 children (including 22 pairs of twins).
The ethnic mix of the original cohort was 47% Samoan
, 21% Tongan, 17% Cook Island Maori
, 4% Niue
an and 11% other Pacific or non-Pacific.
At 12 months of age, 1224 primary caregivers and 825 collateral caregivers were interviewed in relation to 1241 children.
At 24 months, 1144 primary caregivers and 854 collateral caregivers were interviewed in relation to 1162 children.
Details of the first two years can be found in a technical report.
Research topics resulting from the study include
post natal depression,
chronic middle ear disease,
intimate partner violence,
obesity,
gambling,
child behaviour,
mental health
and smacking.
Longitudinal study
A longitudinal study is a correlational research study that involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time — often many decades. It is a type of observational study. Longitudinal studies are often used in psychology to study developmental trends across the...
, cohort study
Cohort study
A cohort study or panel study is a form of longitudinal study used in medicine, social science, actuarial science, and ecology. It is an analysis of risk factors and follows a group of people who do not have the disease, and uses correlations to determine the absolute risk of subject contraction...
of 1398 children (and their parents) of Pacific Islands origin born in Auckland, New Zealand during the year 2000.
The cohort of participants was selected from babies born between 15 March 2000 and 17 December 2000 at Middlemore Hospital
Middlemore Hospital
Middlemore Hospital is a major hospital in the suburb of Middlemore, Manukau City, New Zealand. The largest hospital operated by the Counties Manukau District Health Board, it offers tertiary-level care as well as a range of other health and social services for the Counties Manukau...
with at least one parent identifying as having Pacific Islands origin.
The three overall objectives of the PIF Study are:
- to provide information on Pacific peoples' health, and the cultural, economic, environmental and psychosocial factors that are associated with child health and development outcomes and family functioning,
- to determine how such factors individually and interactively influence positive and negative child, parent and family outcomes over time,
- to provide information that will help set quantifiable targets for Pacific peoples' health.
The study has collected data from mothers, fathers, children and teachers. Data collection phases have occurred at 6 weeks after birth, 12 months, 24 months, 4 years, 6 years and 9 years.
The study is administered within the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at AUT University.
Major funding has been provided by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology was a Crown Entity of New Zealand, established by the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990....
and the Health Research Council of New Zealand
Health Research Council of New Zealand
The Health Research Council of New Zealand is a Crown agency of the New Zealand Government.It is responsible for managing the government's investment in health research for the public good....
.
First Two Years of Life
At approximately 6 weeks after birth, data were collected from interviews of the primary caregiver (usually the birth mother) and the collateral caregiver (the partner of the primary, usually the father).Data were collected from 1376 families in relation to 1398 children (including 22 pairs of twins).
The ethnic mix of the original cohort was 47% Samoan
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
, 21% Tongan, 17% Cook Island Maori
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
, 4% Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
an and 11% other Pacific or non-Pacific.
At 12 months of age, 1224 primary caregivers and 825 collateral caregivers were interviewed in relation to 1241 children.
At 24 months, 1144 primary caregivers and 854 collateral caregivers were interviewed in relation to 1162 children.
Details of the first two years can be found in a technical report.
Transition to School
At the age of 4 years, data were collected from primary caregiver interviews and separate child assessments. At the age of 6 years, data were collected from primary caregiver interviews, collateral caregiver interviews, child assessments and teacher evaluations.Towards Adolescence
As each child turned 9, data were collected from primary caregiver interviews, child assessments and teacher child evaluations. , data on 11-year-olds are being collected from primary and collateral caregiver interviews, child assessments and teacher evaluations.Retention of Participants
At 6 weeks of age, a total of 1,376 mothers (of 1398 children, including 22 pairs of twins) were interviewed. Of those, 1224 (89%) participated at 12-months and 1144 (83%) participated at 24-months. No important differential attrition was observed.Publications of research results
Key findings for the first seven years are given in a summary of findings brochure.Research topics resulting from the study include
post natal depression,
chronic middle ear disease,
intimate partner violence,
obesity,
gambling,
child behaviour,
mental health
and smacking.