Fast FAQs
Q: What is a longitudinal study?
A: A longitudinal study gathers information about the same group of people over a long period of time. For Growing Up in New Zealand, the research team will interview the same group of children and their parents or caregivers every 12 – 18 months starting from when the mother is in the last three months of her pregnancy. The children will be interviewed until they become adults and possibly the study will continue as they get older.
Q: What kind of information is gathered during a longitudinal study?
A: We ask questions about the child’s family and whanau, neighbourhood, health and development and education. With parental consent, we also collect routine health information, like the child’s birth data from the hospital.
Q: What happens to the information?
A: First, the team removes all the personal information that could identify a child and their family. Then when all the interviews are complete, the researchers analyse the information. Once the researchers have their findings, the results are used to develop policies to improve the lives of New Zealand children.
Q: Who can be involved in Growing Up in New Zealand?
A: The study began in mid 2008 when we recruited pregnant women and thier partners to be part of our Leading Light group. From 1 February 2009, every woman between 28 – 36 weeks pregnant and living in the Auckland, Counties-Manukau and Waikato district health board areas was invited to enrol in the study.
Q: How many children will be in the study?
A: We enrolled 200 children in the Leading Light group in mid-2008, and another 7,000 children in the main group from 1 February 2009.
Q: Why is it called Growing Up in New Zealand when the study is only enrolling women from the upper North Island?
A: This region of New Zealand was chosen for the study because it has rural and urban districts, covers the entire socio-economic range and has a broad ethnic diversity. These factors give the research team a sample of the population that can be reasonably generalised and provide information for all New Zealanders and their families. Although the women need to live in Auckland city, Counties Manukau or the Waikato district when their babies were born, they will be a part of Growing Up in New Zealand wherever they live in New Zealand, if they move somewhere else later on.
Q: Why does New Zealand need a longitudinal study about its children?
A: The last longitudinal studies about children in New Zealand began in the 1970s. These are still going, and the children in those studies are now in their 30s. However, a lot has changed in New Zealand since those studies began, so we need to gather up to date information about modern New Zealand families.
Q: Why is it important to know about the development of children and families?
A: Child development is a very complex process, which is influenced by a wide range of social factors. It is important to have a better understanding of these factors so that we can understand how early experiences and family circumstances influence a child’s education, employment and social interactions.