title: Cultural Conversations in a Counselling Context

authors: Harkness, Jane

subjects: counselling

abstract: This research project focuses on counselling practice with Māori women who have engaged in counselling in relation to overcoming the effects of both historic and recent sexual abuse. The researcher / counsellor is pakeha. The counsellor / researcher, researches her practice and its possible effects through research interviews with three women. The project offers a reflection on her practice ethics and on what she learns from the women. In particular, she explores the intentions and effects of an orientation to counselling that includes offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity. She explores the effect of the counselling conversations where aspects of ethno-cultural identity have been included on the women‟s sense of identity. She explores what she draws on as a Pakeha counsellor when offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity. She also explores the effects of offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity for the work of counselling. The project shows the researcher‟s responses to the research meetings and the learning she takes to her ongoing counselling practice.

text: Cultural Conversations in a Counselling Context This research project focuses on counselling practice with Māori women who have engaged in counselling in relation to overcoming the effects of both historic and recent sexual abuse. The researcher / counsellor is pakeha. The counsellor / researcher, researches her practice and its possible effects through research interviews with three women. The project offers a reflection on her practice ethics and on what she learns from the women. In particular, she explores the intentions and effects of an orientation to counselling that includes offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity. She explores the effect of the counselling conversations where aspects of ethno-cultural identity have been included on the women‟s sense of identity. She explores what she draws on as a Pakeha counsellor when offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity. She also explores the effects of offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity for the work of counselling. The project shows the researcher‟s responses to the research meetings and the learning she takes to her ongoing counselling practice.

year: 2008

title: Empirical analysis of Pacific, Māori and ethnic pay gaps in New Zealand

authors: Cochrane, William

abstract: A descriptive profile of the four ethnic groups, by gender, is provided to illustrate the heterogeneities across populations in terms of a number of variables grouped into the following categories: individual characteristics, educational attainment, region, household and job-related characteristics. The main empirical analysis involves estimation of the statistical contribution of observed factors (within each of the aforementioned categories) towards explaining the ethnic pay gaps. As this research is primarily aimed as an input towards the Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry being conducted by the Human Rights Commission, we focus our summary of the key findings on the Pacific – European pay gap.
This includes variables on permanent contract status, an indicator if in part-time work, occupation, and industry. These results are therefore likely an indication of the strong role of occupational segregation in the labour market. An additional factor that had a relatively strong contribution to the pay gap, particularly for the Pacific – European female gap, was educational attainment. Overall, even after accounting for differences in job-related characteristics and educational attainment, amongst a number of other observed factors, it was still found that only 27 percent of the pay gap for Pacific males (relative to Europeans) could be explained; and the corresponding proportion for females was 39 percent. The remaining portion of the Pacific Pay Gap is likely to reflect a range of causes that cannot be quantified or disentangled in this analysis – such as not including other factors of importance as they weren’t observed in the data (for example, literacy proficiency or field of study for qualification attained); ethnic differences in preferences for non-wage components of the job; unconscious bias; and discrimination.

text: Empirical analysis of Pacific, Māori and ethnic pay gaps in New Zealand A descriptive profile of the four ethnic groups, by gender, is provided to illustrate the heterogeneities across populations in terms of a number of variables grouped into the following categories: individual characteristics, educational attainment, region, household and job-related characteristics. The main empirical analysis involves estimation of the statistical contribution of observed factors (within each of the aforementioned categories) towards explaining the ethnic pay gaps. As this research is primarily aimed as an input towards the Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry being conducted by the Human Rights Commission, we focus our summary of the key findings on the Pacific – European pay gap.
This includes variables on permanent contract status, an indicator if in part-time work, occupation, and industry. These results are therefore likely an indication of the strong role of occupational segregation in the labour market. An additional factor that had a relatively strong contribution to the pay gap, particularly for the Pacific – European female gap, was educational attainment. Overall, even after accounting for differences in job-related characteristics and educational attainment, amongst a number of other observed factors, it was still found that only 27 percent of the pay gap for Pacific males (relative to Europeans) could be explained; and the corresponding proportion for females was 39 percent. The remaining portion of the Pacific Pay Gap is likely to reflect a range of causes that cannot be quantified or disentangled in this analysis – such as not including other factors of importance as they weren’t observed in the data (for example, literacy proficiency or field of study for qualification attained); ethnic differences in preferences for non-wage components of the job; unconscious bias; and discrimination.

year: 2022-07

title: The Mentrual cycle's effect on sleep in adolescent female athletes.

authors: Anderson, Naia

subjects: menstrual cycle

abstract: Sleep is a crucial aspect of recovery and overall well-being, yet many adolescent female athletes 
experience disruptions influenced by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle. While 
research on elite adult athletes has explored sleep disturbances related to training and competition, 
there is limited understanding of how menstrual cycle fluctuations impact sleep in younger athletes. 
Variations in estrogen and progesterone levels across the follicular and luteal phases are known to 
affect sleep patterns, including sleep quality, duration and onset latency. Increased progesterone in the 
luteal phase, for example, has been linked to poorer sleep efficiency and greater difficulty falling 
asleep. Additionally, menstrual-related symptoms such as cramps, fatigue, and mood changes may 
further interfere with rest and recovery. Given the importance of sleep for athletic performance and 
well-being, the first chapter of this thesis seeks to examine the current knowledge on how different 
phases of the menstrual cycle influence sleep in adolescent female athletes. 
The second chapter of this thesis presents an original study that examined how different phases of the 
menstrual cycle affect sleep in adolescent female athletes. Over the course of three menstrual cycles, 
ten participants (14.5 ± 1.9) who were in their early-to-mid and mid-to-late pubertal stages, tracked 
their sleep using both subjective and objective methods. They recorded sleep duration and perceived 
sleep quality in a sleep diary. Simultaneously, wrist-worn actigraphy devices (Fitbit) measured 
objective sleep metrics, including sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep onset latency, wake episodes, 
and wake time. The reliability of both subjective and objective sleep measures in adolescent female 
athletes during the follicular phase (FP) and luteal phases (LP) of the menstrual cycle was examined.  
Subjective measures demonstrated poor reliability in the luteal phase (sleep duration: ICC = -0.22; 
sleep quality: ICC = -0.49) but fair to good reliability during the follicular phase for sleep duration 
(ICC= 0.69; CV = 4.9%) and sleep quality (ICC = 0.57; CV = 8.9%). Objective measures showed 
poor reliability during the luteal phase for sleep duration (ICC = -0.17; CV 11%) and sleep quality 
(ICC= 0.00; CV = 9.2%) but fair reliability during the follicular phase for sleep duration (ICC = 0.38; 
CV = 7.2%) and sleep quality (ICC = 0.51; CV = 5.8%).  
When comparing objective data to subjective data, participants overestimated subjective sleep 
duration compared to the objective sleep duration data with the average difference being (1.38 h; p = 
3.00 x 10-47; effect size = 1.20). When comparing the two menstrual phases, sleep onset latency was 
non-significantly worse during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (LP = 20.8 mins; FP 
= 16.0 mins; p= 0.68; effect size = -1.54). Objective sleep quality was non-significantly worse in the 
luteal phase in comparison to the follicular phase (LP = 75.4; FP = 77.1%; p = 0.34; effect size = 1.56) 
and sleep duration was non-significantly shorter in the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase 
(LP = 9.04 hrs; FP = 9.09 hrs; p = 0.72; effect size = 0.24). Lastly, the mid-late pubertal group had 
3 
significantly longer sleep duration during the follicular phase compared to the early-mid pubertal 
group (7.98 vs 7.44 h; p =0.03; effect size = -4.36 ± 0.12).  
The final chapter discusses the study’s findings, indicating that although both subjective and objective 
measures have their advantages, the subjective measures tended to be more reliable during specific 
menstrual cycle phases. The participants underestimated their sleep duration, reinforcing the 
importance of combining objective and subjective measures to get more accurate assessments of sleep 
duration. The adolescent female athlete’s sleep quality and sleep onset latency can slightly be 
impacted by the menstrual cycle phases and sleep patterns were subtly worse during the luteal phase 
in comparison to the follicular phase; however, there were no statistically significant differences 
observed in the sleep measures studied. Sleep patterns do seem to improve in the mid-late pubertal 
maturation stage when compared to the early-mid pubertal stage. The data show that it is important to 
understand and take into consideration the menstrual cycle phases and the maturation stages of our 
athletes when creating training and recovery plans for these adolescent female athletes; however, 
more investigation is required to understand the potential effects of the menstrual cycle on sleep 
disturbances and its effect on female participation and performance in sport.

text: The Mentrual cycle's effect on sleep in adolescent female athletes. Sleep is a crucial aspect of recovery and overall well-being, yet many adolescent female athletes 
experience disruptions influenced by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle. While 
research on elite adult athletes has explored sleep disturbances related to training and competition, 
there is limited understanding of how menstrual cycle fluctuations impact sleep in younger athletes. 
Variations in estrogen and progesterone levels across the follicular and luteal phases are known to 
affect sleep patterns, including sleep quality, duration and onset latency. Increased progesterone in the 
luteal phase, for example, has been linked to poorer sleep efficiency and greater difficulty falling 
asleep. Additionally, menstrual-related symptoms such as cramps, fatigue, and mood changes may 
further interfere with rest and recovery. Given the importance of sleep for athletic performance and 
well-being, the first chapter of this thesis seeks to examine the current knowledge on how different 
phases of the menstrual cycle influence sleep in adolescent female athletes. 
The second chapter of this thesis presents an original study that examined how different phases of the 
menstrual cycle affect sleep in adolescent female athletes. Over the course of three menstrual cycles, 
ten participants (14.5 ± 1.9) who were in their early-to-mid and mid-to-late pubertal stages, tracked 
their sleep using both subjective and objective methods. They recorded sleep duration and perceived 
sleep quality in a sleep diary. Simultaneously, wrist-worn actigraphy devices (Fitbit) measured 
objective sleep metrics, including sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep onset latency, wake episodes, 
and wake time. The reliability of both subjective and objective sleep measures in adolescent female 
athletes during the follicular phase (FP) and luteal phases (LP) of the menstrual cycle was examined.  
Subjective measures demonstrated poor reliability in the luteal phase (sleep duration: ICC = -0.22; 
sleep quality: ICC = -0.49) but fair to good reliability during the follicular phase for sleep duration 
(ICC= 0.69; CV = 4.9%) and sleep quality (ICC = 0.57; CV = 8.9%). Objective measures showed 
poor reliability during the luteal phase for sleep duration (ICC = -0.17; CV 11%) and sleep quality 
(ICC= 0.00; CV = 9.2%) but fair reliability during the follicular phase for sleep duration (ICC = 0.38; 
CV = 7.2%) and sleep quality (ICC = 0.51; CV = 5.8%).  
When comparing objective data to subjective data, participants overestimated subjective sleep 
duration compared to the objective sleep duration data with the average difference being (1.38 h; p = 
3.00 x 10-47; effect size = 1.20). When comparing the two menstrual phases, sleep onset latency was 
non-significantly worse during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (LP = 20.8 mins; FP 
= 16.0 mins; p= 0.68; effect size = -1.54). Objective sleep quality was non-significantly worse in the 
luteal phase in comparison to the follicular phase (LP = 75.4; FP = 77.1%; p = 0.34; effect size = 1.56) 
and sleep duration was non-significantly shorter in the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase 
(LP = 9.04 hrs; FP = 9.09 hrs; p = 0.72; effect size = 0.24). Lastly, the mid-late pubertal group had 
3 
significantly longer sleep duration during the follicular phase compared to the early-mid pubertal 
group (7.98 vs 7.44 h; p =0.03; effect size = -4.36 ± 0.12).  
The final chapter discusses the study’s findings, indicating that although both subjective and objective 
measures have their advantages, the subjective measures tended to be more reliable during specific 
menstrual cycle phases. The participants underestimated their sleep duration, reinforcing the 
importance of combining objective and subjective measures to get more accurate assessments of sleep 
duration. The adolescent female athlete’s sleep quality and sleep onset latency can slightly be 
impacted by the menstrual cycle phases and sleep patterns were subtly worse during the luteal phase 
in comparison to the follicular phase; however, there were no statistically significant differences 
observed in the sleep measures studied. Sleep patterns do seem to improve in the mid-late pubertal 
maturation stage when compared to the early-mid pubertal stage. The data show that it is important to 
understand and take into consideration the menstrual cycle phases and the maturation stages of our 
athletes when creating training and recovery plans for these adolescent female athletes; however, 
more investigation is required to understand the potential effects of the menstrual cycle on sleep 
disturbances and its effect on female participation and performance in sport.

year: 2025-09-12