Gender differences in paid and unpaid work: findings from a New Zealand birth cohort

This study uses data from a birth cohort of New Zealand-born 30-year-olds to examine gender differences in time use and satisfaction with time use. The specific aims of the study are: to examine gender difference in time spent in paid employment and unpaid work; to examine the extent to which males and females are satisfied with their time use

Role of the thalamic nuclei in odour-place association learning

A common view of diencephalic amnesia is that a single diencephalic structure is responsible for the memory impairment, but an alternative view is that different diencephalic structures contribute to the memory impairment in subtly different ways. This study directly compared the effects of highly selective lesions to three thalamic aggregates (the AT, MT and LT) on an odour­ place paired-associate task and a spontaneous object recognition task and used a novel quantitative analysis to calculate the damage caused by these lesions. AT and LT, but not MT lesions, severely impaired performance on the odour-place paired-associate task. Spatial probe trials introduced at the end of the odour-place paired-associate task suggested that animals may use a combination of allocentric and egocentric strategies to solve the task. No group (including controls) showed clear detection of object or object-in-place changes in the spontaneous object recognition task. The impairment in odour-place paired-associate learning in the AT group is consistent with previous research (Sziklas and Petrides, 1999) and supports Aggleton and Brown's (1999) proposal that the AT is part of an 'extended hippocampal system'. The impairment in the LT group provided new insight into the potential role of the LT in pattern association. Findings from the spatial probe tasks and the spontaneous object recognition task highlight the need for future studies to control for factors that could potentially affect performance in these tasks, such as the use of egocentric response strategies and innate object preference. The results of this study provide new information regarding the role of the thalamic nuclei in pattern association processes, and suggest that traditional models of memory function (for example, Kesner, 1998; White & McDonald, 2002) may need to be revised to take into account the important role of the thalamic nuclei in memory

Relationship separation and mental health problems: Findings from a 30-year longitudinal study

Objective: To examine the associations between relationship separation and a range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol abuse/dependence, cannabis abuse/dependence, and total number of mental health problems. Method: Data were drawn from a 30-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of individuals born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Associations between separation and mental health problems were examined using two types of regression models: population-averaged generalized estimating equation models and fixed effects models. Associations were adjusted for a wide range of fixed and time-dynamic potential covariate factors. Results: After due allowance was made for confounding, separation was associated with depression, suicidal behaviour, and the total number of mental health problems (rate ratios range 1.7-3.4, median 3.2). These associations were apparent both when separation was used as the dependent variable and when the mental health problems were used as the dependent variables. In contrast, separation was not significantly associated with anxiety disorders, alcohol abuse/dependence, or illicit drug abuse/dependence when due allowance was made for confounding. Associations between separation and mental health problems were not significantly different for men and women. Conclusions: Separation of a cohabiting relationship is associated with increased rates of depression, suicidal behaviour, and total mental health problems. However, it was not possible to determine the causal direction of the relationship between separation and mental health problems. Future studies may need to employ approaches other than observational research designs in order to address issues of causality

Bullying victimization/perpetration in childhood and later adjustment: Findings from a 30 year longitudinal study

Purpose: This paper aims to report on the associations between reports of bullying victimization and bullying perpetration in childhood and subsequent mental health and adjustment difficulties in late adolescence/adulthood (16-30 years) in a New Zealand birth cohort. Design/methodology/approach: The paper uses data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study, a longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1,265 individuals born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1977 and followed to age 30. Findings: There were general trends for rates of mental health/adjustment problems to be significantly associated with parental reports of bullying victimization in adolescence, and with parent and teacher reports of bullying perpetration in middle childhood or adolescence. Effect sizes were typically in the small to moderate range, and were reduced by covariate adjustment. After adjustment the majority of associations were statistically non-significant. Effect sizes did not vary significantly with gender or the age at which outcomes were assessed. Originality/value: The paper confirms that reports of bullying perpetration and victimization in childhood were associated with higher rates of later mental health/adjustment problems. Effect sizes were typically in the small to moderate range and, in the majority of cases, were substantially reduced upon covariate adjustment. Effect size estimates were not significantly different between males and females and did not vary with the age at which outcomes were assessed

Working hours and alcohol problems in early adulthood

Aims To examine the associations between working hours and alcohol-related problems during early adulthood. Design and setting Longitudinal study of a birth cohort born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1977 and studied to age 30. Participants A total of 1019 participants with data available for working hours and alcohol-related problems at either age 25 or 30. Measurements Weekly working hours in paid employment; frequent alcohol use; diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence; number of symptoms of alcohol abuse/dependence. Associations between working hours and alcohol-related problems were adjusted for covariates including measures of: parental and family background; personality and behaviour; IQ and educational achievement; recent negative life events; recent mental health problems; and current partner and family circumstances. Findings Longer work hours were associated significantly with more frequent alcohol use (P<0.0001), higher rates of alcohol abuse/dependence (P=0.0001) and a greater number of alcohol abuse/dependence symptoms (P=0.01). These associations were adjusted for a wide range of confounding factors. After adjustment there remained significant (P<0.05) associations between working hours and alcohol-related problems, with those working 50 or more hours per week having rates of alcohol-related problems 1.8-3.3 times higher than those who were not working. The associations between work hours and alcohol use were similar for males and females. Conclusions Longer work hours appear to be associated with higher rates of alcohol-related problems, including more frequent alcohol use, higher rates of alcohol abuse/dependence and a greater number of alcohol abuse/dependence symptoms. These associations remain even after extensive adjustment for confounding

Effects of single-sex and coeducational schooling on the gender gap in educational achievement

This study examined the effects of single-sex and coeducational schooling on the gender gap in educational achievement to age 25. Data were drawn from the Christchurch Health and Development Study, a longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 individuals born in 1977 in Christchurch, New Zealand. After adjustment for a series of covariates related to school choice, there were significant differences between single-sex and coeducational schools in the size and direction of the gender gap. At coeducational schools, there was a statistically significant gap favouring females, while at single-sex schools there was a non-significant gap favour- ing males. This pattern was apparent for educational achievement both at high school and in tertiary education. These results indicate that single-sex schooling may mitigate male disadvantages in educational achievement

Childhood family income and life outcomes in adulthood: Findings from a 30-year longitudinal study in New Zealand

The aims of this study were to use data gathered over the course of a 30-year longitudinal study to examine the linkages between economic circumstances in childhood and subsequent developmental outcomes spanning educational achievement; economic circumstances; crime; mental health; and teenage pregnancy. All of these outcomes have been linked with childhood economic conditions and it is frequently argued that reducing income inequalities will mitigate psychosocial risks of children reared in families facing economic hardship. Alternatively it may be suggested that the associations between childhood family economic circumstances and later outcomes are mediated by individual, family and social factors that are correlated with low family income and contribute to later outcomes. To examine these issues, data were drawn from a birth cohort of New Zealand children born in 1977 and followed to age 30.Declining childhood family income was associated with a range of negative outcomes in adulthood, including: lower educational achievement; poorer economic circumstances; higher rates of criminal offending; higher rates of mental health problems; and higher rates of teenage pregnancy. After covariate adjustment, childhood family income remained significantly associated with educational achievement and economic circumstances, but was no longer significantly associated with the mental health, offending and teenage pregnancy outcomes. These findings suggest that, after due allowance has been made for social, family and individual contextual factors, low family income during childhood is associated with a range of educational and economic disadvantages in adulthood but is not directly related to increased risks of crime, mental health problems or teen pregnancy