Research Blog

The latest issue of Youth12-24 years of age. Studies Australia (volume 31, issue number 3) raises a few issues about research into and of young people. These concerns are centred on the ethics of research, and how these have (or haven’t, as the case seems to be) shifted to accommodate new paradigms of inquiry (such as how young people engage with the internet) and new spaces in which research takes place (such as social media sites like Facebook and Twitter).

It was great to be brought up to date on all the impressive research that is either underway or has been recently completed in this area, and the presentations certainly reflected the theme of the fono, “Pacific Edge: Transforming Knowledge into Innovative Practices” 

Themes were:

My nephew Ben and the Lovely Lisa were recently wed in the Wairarapa with lots of happy faces and lots of wee ones running around, including my other nephew’s little girl, Willa. Looking at the number of young couples and the large-ish number of members of the next generation in evidence made me think about the whole alcohol and pregnancy thing. As if in response, an email arrived giving notice of a Babies, Children and Alcohol conference.

The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council commissioned an independent Panel to Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy, who presented their report in January 2011 http://www.foodlabellingreview.gov.au/internet/foodlabelling/publishing....
The Ministerial Council released its response to their alcohol-related recommendations at the end of 2011. 

Self-reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy

Most women's statements about their alcohol consumption during pregnancy during a study in Germany were truthful, according to direct metabolite measures in meconium (made using 530 samples). However, results indicated that those women who drink higher doses of ethanol are less likely to admit their alcohol abuse.

White Ribbon day was held again, this 25 November. Pleased to see the Chief Executive of the Families Commission Paul Curry out there with others at the Wellington Railway Station handing out White Ribbons.

Gives pause for thought about alcohol and its role.

A large Canadian research project reported in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research in 2006 confirmed a strong association between alcohol use and violence.

A Families Commission Research Report in 2009 on family violence notes that Police judged alcohol use to have been a contributing factor among 29 percent of offenders and 15 percent of victims in the family violence incidents they attended in 2006. (Although for a further 10 percent of offenders and 14 percent of victims alcohol use was unknown.)

The Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary Sector Research Centre (Community Research) is offering six awards in 2011 for New and Emerging Community Researchers, whose research/rangahau adds to our understanding of community in Aotearoa.

Applications close 16th September 2011.

More information including eligibility criteria is available here.

A feasibility study is underway by Karen Renner of Auckland University into a mobile phone based brief intervention designed to help young people (18-34 years) keep safe while they are out drinking with their friends.