title: The characteristics and life difficulties associated to non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality in a community sample.

authors: Robertson, Charlotte Rose

abstract: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is a complex and understudied topic within the New Zealand literature. Risk factors, and functions of NSSI and suicidality within the socio-cultural context of New Zealand is an important area of research, having both clinical and research implications, such as enhancing or fuelling further investigation into prevention and therapeutic strategies. 
A revised version of the Survey of College and Mental Health and Well Being and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (21) were used to explore NSSI, mental health, physical health and other characteristics of participants. Surveys were anonymous and self-selected by New Zealand community members. There were 304 participants, primarily identifying as female and of European descent. 
Young women were the highest risk demographic for engagement in NSSI. Psychological distress, any type of abuse, suicidality, and experiencing the suicide of a friend or acquaintance were significant predictors of participant’s engagement in NSSI. Multiple types of abuse and experiencing the death of a family member or friend to suicide significantly predicted suicidality, suggesting merit for acquired capability theory. Emotional regulation remains the most endorsed function of NSSI. There is no type of abuse that correlates to a function of NSSI, which highlights the complexity and idiosyncrasy of NSSI for each individual. Clinicians should focus on the behaviours’ functions specific for that individual to promote positive treatment outcomes.

text: The characteristics and life difficulties associated to non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality in a community sample. Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is a complex and understudied topic within the New Zealand literature. Risk factors, and functions of NSSI and suicidality within the socio-cultural context of New Zealand is an important area of research, having both clinical and research implications, such as enhancing or fuelling further investigation into prevention and therapeutic strategies. 
A revised version of the Survey of College and Mental Health and Well Being and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (21) were used to explore NSSI, mental health, physical health and other characteristics of participants. Surveys were anonymous and self-selected by New Zealand community members. There were 304 participants, primarily identifying as female and of European descent. 
Young women were the highest risk demographic for engagement in NSSI. Psychological distress, any type of abuse, suicidality, and experiencing the suicide of a friend or acquaintance were significant predictors of participant’s engagement in NSSI. Multiple types of abuse and experiencing the death of a family member or friend to suicide significantly predicted suicidality, suggesting merit for acquired capability theory. Emotional regulation remains the most endorsed function of NSSI. There is no type of abuse that correlates to a function of NSSI, which highlights the complexity and idiosyncrasy of NSSI for each individual. Clinicians should focus on the behaviours’ functions specific for that individual to promote positive treatment outcomes.

year: 2021

title: Female sexuality in two samples of New Zealand women

authors: Person, Antoinette

subjects: Female sexuality

abstract: The sexuality of New Zealand women, their preferences and their practices, was compared in a questionnaire administered to two groups of New Zealand women. The first sample contained six hundred and forty-five women who attended the United Women's Convention in 1977. The second sample included seventy women who replied to a postal questionnaire sent to a random selection from the Hamilton East electoral roll. The questionnaire was loosely based on Hite's (1976) study of the sexuality of American women. 
The questionnaire examined the respondent's sexual preferences, fantasy, masturbation, orgasm, partner related questions and questions on oral sex. A feminist orientation scale was devised to determine feminist bias, in particular in the first sample. The respondents proved to be unrepresentative of the general population. They were predominantly Pakeha, highly educated, with a high percentage in professional or managerial positions. These women are orgasmic and enjoy it, they masturbate, enjoy fantasies and do not experience orgasm from a penis in vagina only. Following research by Kinsey et al. (1953), Masters and Johnson (1966) and Hite (1976), this study confirms the clitoris as women's orgasmic organ.

text: Female sexuality in two samples of New Zealand women The sexuality of New Zealand women, their preferences and their practices, was compared in a questionnaire administered to two groups of New Zealand women. The first sample contained six hundred and forty-five women who attended the United Women's Convention in 1977. The second sample included seventy women who replied to a postal questionnaire sent to a random selection from the Hamilton East electoral roll. The questionnaire was loosely based on Hite's (1976) study of the sexuality of American women. 
The questionnaire examined the respondent's sexual preferences, fantasy, masturbation, orgasm, partner related questions and questions on oral sex. A feminist orientation scale was devised to determine feminist bias, in particular in the first sample. The respondents proved to be unrepresentative of the general population. They were predominantly Pakeha, highly educated, with a high percentage in professional or managerial positions. These women are orgasmic and enjoy it, they masturbate, enjoy fantasies and do not experience orgasm from a penis in vagina only. Following research by Kinsey et al. (1953), Masters and Johnson (1966) and Hite (1976), this study confirms the clitoris as women's orgasmic organ.

year: 1979

title: Telomere length in early childhood is associated with sex and ethnicity

authors: Ly, Kien

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that function to protect chromosomes from degradation. Throughout the life course, telomere length decreases with age and is influenced by environmental factors and health conditions. This study aimed to determine the relative telomere lengths in a diverse cohort of about 4000 four-year-old children in New Zealand. Linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between telomere length, child gender, ethnicity, paternal age and deprivation. We observed substantial variation in telomere length according to sex and self-identified ethnicity. Telomere length was longer in females compared to males (coefficient of 0.042, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.024–0.060). European children had shorter telomere than both the indigenous Māori (coefficient of 0.03, CI 0.007–0.055) and Pacific children (coefficient of 0.15, CI 0.12–0.18). The data suggest that telomere lengths are highly variable and variability between individuals arise from early age, influenced partly by sex and ethnicity. Longer telomeres in indigenous Māori and Pacific children may reflect the heritability of telomere length in genetically less complex populations. This study increases our understanding of telomere dynamics in young children since the majority of telomere studies are conducted in adults.

text: Telomere length in early childhood is associated with sex and ethnicity Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that function to protect chromosomes from degradation. Throughout the life course, telomere length decreases with age and is influenced by environmental factors and health conditions. This study aimed to determine the relative telomere lengths in a diverse cohort of about 4000 four-year-old children in New Zealand. Linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between telomere length, child gender, ethnicity, paternal age and deprivation. We observed substantial variation in telomere length according to sex and self-identified ethnicity. Telomere length was longer in females compared to males (coefficient of 0.042, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.024–0.060). European children had shorter telomere than both the indigenous Māori (coefficient of 0.03, CI 0.007–0.055) and Pacific children (coefficient of 0.15, CI 0.12–0.18). The data suggest that telomere lengths are highly variable and variability between individuals arise from early age, influenced partly by sex and ethnicity. Longer telomeres in indigenous Māori and Pacific children may reflect the heritability of telomere length in genetically less complex populations. This study increases our understanding of telomere dynamics in young children since the majority of telomere studies are conducted in adults.

year: 2019