The Relationship between Head Injury and Behaviour Problems for Children in Aotearoa New Zealand: The Impact of Individual, Whānau and Societal Factors

Mā te kimi ka kite, Mā te kite ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio ka Mārama

Seek and discover. Discover and know. Know and become enlightened (Tamaiti, 2022).

Both head injuries and behaviour problems can have significant consequences for children as they grow up, impacting the child, their whānau, and the wider community. Despite head injury being the leading cause of childhood death worldwide, and behaviour problems being the main reason children are referred to mental health services, the relationship between head injury and behaviour problems over time are not well understood, with contradictory findings in current research.

This thesis investigated the longitudinal relationship between head injury and behaviour problems in children aged 2-8 years within Aotearoa New Zealand, based on data from the Growing Up in New Zealand study. Cross-lagged path analyses explored the direction and strength of the relationships between head injury and behaviour problems across time. In addition, this study also controlled for the impact of individual, whānau and societal factors on these relationships, paying particular attention to the disparities in outcomes for Māori and Pacific children, who are overrepresented in statistics relating to head injury and behaviour problems.

The findings provide evidence linking head injuries in children to an increased risk of behaviour problems over time, with variations based on injury timing and severity. Interestingly biological sex does not play a role in those variations. The findings also highlight that the relationships between head injury and behaviour problems change over time, when controlling for multilevel cumulative risk factors and vary between ethnic groups. Additionally, the study identifies authoritative and permissive parenting styles as protective factors against behaviour problems in children with head injuries.

The outcomes of this study present a remarkable opportunity to enhance community awareness and comprehension of the intricate connections between head trauma and behavioural issues among children. Such knowledge has the potential to inform the design of effective interventions to improve child well-being and offer policy recommendations aimed at enhancing quality of life for whānau and their children. Moreover, this research can provide insight into the development of culturally sensitive intervention approaches tailored to the needs of diverse community groups.

Papata pē, ka na’e lalanga

It may be coarse in texture, but it was woven (About – Pasifika Families, n.d.).