Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Changes in exposure to ‘life stressors’ in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, 2002 to 2008

Authors: Matthew Stevens, Yin Paradies

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2014

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The Negative Life Events Scale (NLES) has been included in nationally representative surveys of the Indigenous and Australian population since 2002 as a measure of exposure to a range of ‘life stressors’. There has been limited reporting or analysis of estimates of the NLES from these surveys. This paper reports changes in exposure to stressors from 2002 to 2008 for the Indigenous population, and examines inter-relationships between eleven NLES items. Data for the 2006 Australian population is also included for comparative purposes.

Methods

Data from the 2002 and 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Surveys (NATSISS) and the 2006 General Social Survey (GSS) were accessed from the Australia Bureau of Statistics in order to determine significant changes in exposure to stressors for the 2002 and 2008 Indigenous population by remoteness and to compare this with the 2006 Australian population. Factor analysis was used to assess the inter-relationships between stressors for the Indigenous and Australian population by remoteness.

Results

In remote locations, between 2002 and 2008, exposure to life stressors decreased significantly for the Indigenous population across seven of the eleven stressors. In non-remote locations, exposure to four of the stressors increased significantly. Exposure to stressors in the 2002 and 2008 non-remote Indigenous population were significantly higher than those for the 2006 Australian population for all items, except ‘alcohol and/or drug problems’ and ‘trouble with the police’, which showed no evidence of a difference. The factor analysis of the NLES for the 2002 and 2008 remote and non-remote Indigenous populations and the 2006 Australian population showed a consistent clustering of items into three groups: social transgressions; grief and trauma; and labour market stressors.

Conclusions

The reduction in exposure to life stressors for the remote Indigenous population may be related to policy and practice changes (e.g. more police, income quarantining, housing construction). The differential change in exposure to life stressors between remote and non-remote locations highlights the importance of presenting data for these geographic locations separately.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Bowling A, Browne PD: Social networks, health, and emotional well-being among the oldest Old in London. J Gerontol. 1991, 46 (1): S20-S32. 10.1093/geronj/46.1.S20.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Cadman D, Boyle M, Szatmari P, Offord DR: Chronic illness, disability, and mental and social well-being: findings of the Ontario child health study. Pediatrics. 1987, 79 (5): 805-813.PubMed
3.
Martin GM: On social and emotional wellbeing and Indigenous Australians. Australian eJournal for the Advancement of Mental Health. 2008, 7 (3): 1-5.
4.
Social Health Reference Group: National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being (2004–2009). Edited by: Council AHMA. 2004, Canberra: Office of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Health, 1-79.
5.
Henderson G, Robson C, Cox L, Dukes C, Tsey K, Haswell M: Social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the broader context of the social determinants of health. Beyond Bandaids: Exploring the Underlying Social Determinants of Aboriginal Health. 2007, Darwin: Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, 136-164.
6.
Carson B, Dunbar T, Chenhall R, Bailie R: Social Determinants of Indigenous Health. 2007, Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin, 1
7.
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare: Measuring the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 2009, Canberra: AIHW
8.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Institute of Health & Welfare: The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, 2013. Cat no 47040. 2013, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
9.
Phillips G: Addictions and Healing in Aboriginal Country. 2003, Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press
10.
Australian Government: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan, 2013–2023. Edited by: Health Do. 2013, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
11.
Rudd K: Closing the gap on indigenous disadvantage: the challenge for Australia. Speeches. 2009, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
12.
Australian Government: National partnership agreement on closing the gap in indigenous health outcomes. Edited by: Services DoS. 2008, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia,
13.
Banks G: Indigenous disadvantage: are we making progress?. 2005, Adelaids: Committee for Economic Development in Australia
14.
Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision: Overcoming indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2007. Edited by: Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision. 2007, Canberra: Productivity Commission
15.
Altman J, Biddle N, Hunter B: The challenge of 'closing the gaps' in Indigenous socioeconomic outcomes. Australia 2020 Summit. 2008, Canberra: Centre for Aboriginal and Economic Research, ANU
16.
Altman JC, Biddle N, Hunter BH: A historical perspective on indigenous socioeconomic outcomes in Australia, 1971–2001. Aust Econ Hist Rev. 2005, 45 (3): 273-295. 10.1111/j.1467-8446.2005.00139.x.CrossRef
17.
Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision: Overcoming indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2011. 2011, Canberra: Productivity Commission
18.
Kowal E, Gunthorpe W, Bailie R: Measuring emotional and social wellbeing in aboriginal and Torres strait islander populations: an analysis of a negative life events scale. Int J Equity Health. 2007, 6 (18): 1-12.
19.
Garvey D: A review of the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous Australian peoples – considerations, challenges and opportunities. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. 2008, 8 (4): 1-29.
20.
Dingwall KM, Cairney S: Psychological and cognitive assessment of indigenous Australians. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2010, 44 (1): 20-30. 10.3109/00048670903393670.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Lutschini M: Engaging with holism in Australian Aboriginal health policy - a review. Australia and New Zealand health policy. 2005, 2: 15-10.1186/1743-8462-2-15.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
22.
McEwan A, Tsey K, Empowerment Research Team: The role of spirituality in social and emotional wellbeing initiatives: the family wellbeing program at Yarrabah. 2008, Darwin: Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health
23.
Swan P, Raphael B: Ways Forward: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Policy National Consultancy Report. 1995, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service, 1-272.
24.
Jorm AF, Bourchier SJ, Cvetkovski S, Stewart G: Mental health of Indigenous Australians: a review of findings from community surveys. Med J Aust. 2012, 196 (2): 118-121. 10.5694/mja11.10041.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Zubrick SR, Silburn SR, Lawrence DM, Mitrou FG, Dalby RB, Blair EM, Griffin J, Milroy H, De Maio JA, Cox A, et al: The Western Australian aboriginal child health survey: the social and emotional wellbeing of aboriginal children and young people. 2005, Perth: Curtin University of Technology and Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, 1-630.
26.
Thomas A, Cairney S, Gunthorpe W, Paradies Y, Sayers S: Strong Souls: development and validation of a culturally appropriate tool for assessment of social and emotional well-being in Indigenous youth. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2010, 44 (1): 40-48. 10.3109/00048670903393589.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Zubrick SR, Lawrence DM, de Maio J, Biddle N: Testing the reliability of a measure of aboriginal children's mental health: an analysis based on the Western Australian aboriginal child health survey. Cat no 1351055011. 2006, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics
28.
Skelton F, Kikkawa D: Social and emotional wellbeing and learning to read English. Footprints in time: The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children, Report from Wave 4. 2013, Canberra: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
29.
Goodman R: Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001, 40 (11): 1337-1345. 10.1097/00004583-200111000-00015.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey: Technical Manual, 2002. Cat no 471755001. 2004, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
31.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: ABS Directions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics, Jun 2007. Cat no 47000. 2007, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
32.
Stevens M, Young M: Betting on the evidence: reported gambling problems amongst the indigenous population of the northern territory. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 2009, 33 (6): 556-565. 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2009.00453.x.CrossRef
33.
Stevens M, Young M: Independent correlates of reported gambling problems amongst Indigenous Australians. Soc Indic Res. 2010, 98 (1): 147-166. 10.1007/s11205-009-9536-4.CrossRef
34.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey: Users Guide, 2008. Cat no 47200. 2010, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
35.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC). Cat no 12160. 2008, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
36.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: Housing and Infrastructure in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Communities, Australia, 2001. Cat no 47100. 2002, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
37.
Everitt BS, Dunn G: Applied Multivariate Data Analysis. 2001, London: ArnoldCrossRef
38.
Bryant FB, Yarnold PR: Principal-components analysis and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Reading and Understanding Multivariate Statistics. Edited by: Grimm LG, Yarnold PR. 1995, Washington DC: American Psychological Association
39.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL) User Guide. Cat no 1406055002. 2012, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
40.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: General social survey, 2006: users guide. Cat no 415955002. 2007, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
41.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, Australia, 2002. Cat no 4717055001. 2004, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
42.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: General social survey: summary results, Australia, 2002. Cat no 4159055006. 2004, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
43.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: General social survey: summary results, Australia, 2006. Cat no 41590. 2007, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
44.
Stevens M, Young M: Reported gambling problems in the indigenous and total Australian population. 2009, Melbourne: Office of Gaming and Racing Department of Justice for Gambling Research Australia, 1-75.
45.
Bailie R, Stevens M, McDonald E, Halpin S, Brewster D, Robinson G, Guthridge S: Skin infection, housing and social circumstances in children living in remote Indigenous communities: testing conceptual and methodological approaches. BMC Public Health. 2005, 5 (1): 128-10.1186/1471-2458-5-128.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
46.
Wild R, Anderson P: Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle “Little Children are Sacred”: Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse. 2007, Darwin: Northern Territory Government
47.
Hunter EM: Aboriginal Health and History, Power and Prejudice in Remote Australia. 1993, Cambridge: Cambridge University PressCrossRef
48.
McKnight D: From hunting to drinking: The devastating effects of alcohol on an Australian Aboriginal community. 2002, London: RoutledgeCrossRef
49.
Martin DF: Autonomy and relatedness: An ethnography of Wik people of Aurukun, western Cape York Peninsula. PhD. 1993, Canberra: Australia National University
50.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Institute of Health & Welfare: The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, 2010. Cat no 47040. 2010, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia
51.
Hunter B, Biddle N: Survey Analysis for Indigenous Policy in Australia: Social Science Perspectives. 2012, Canberra: Australia National University
52.
Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW: Pressing problems: Gambling issues and responses for NSW Aboriginal communities. 2007, Sydney: NSW Government
53.
Brady M, Nicholls R, Henderson G, Byrne JOE: The role of a rural sobering-up centre in managing alcohol-related harm to Aboriginal people in South Australia. Drug And Alcohol Review. 2006, 25 (3): 201-206. 10.1080/09595230600644657.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Calabria B, Clifford A, Shakeshaft A, Allan J, Bliss D, Doran C: The acceptability to Aboriginal Australians of a family-based intervention to reduce alcohol-related harms. Drug And Alcohol Review. 2013, 32 (3): 328-332. 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00525.x.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Cultural Perspectives Pty Ltd: Research into health promotion and best practice services for Indigenous diverse communities. Edited by: Justice VGD. 2005, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Office for Gaming and Racing
56.
Hing N, Breen H, Gordon A, Russell A: Risk factors for problem gambling among indigenous Australians: an empirical study. J Gambl Stud. 2013, 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s10899-013-9364-y. Online ISSN 1573-3602
57.
Chikritzhs T, Brady M: Fact or fiction? a critique of the national aboriginal and torres strait islander social survey 2002. Drug And Alcohol Review. 2006, 25 (3): 277-287. 10.1080/09595230600644715.CrossRefPubMed
58.
Chikritzhs T, Liang W: Does the 2008 NATSISS underestimate the prevalence of high risk Indigenous drinking?. Survey analysis for indigenous policy in Australia : social science perspectives. Volume Research Monograph No. 32, edn. Edited by: Hunter B, Biddle N. 2012, The Australian National University, Canberra: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research College of Arts and Social Sciences, 49-64.
59.
Northern Territory Government: Closing the gap on indigenous disadvantage: a generational plan of action. 2007, Darwin: Northern Territory Government
60.
Northern Territory Government: Growing them Strong, Together: Promoting the safety and wellbeing of the Northern Territory’s children, Summary Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Child Protection System in the NT Northern Territory 2010. 2010, Darwin: Northern Territory Government
61.
Breen H, Hing N, Gordon A: Exploring indigenous gambling: understanding indigenous gambling behaviour, consequences, risk factors and potential interventions. 2010, Lismore: Southern Cross University, 1-242.
62.
Hunter EM, Spargo RM: What's the big deal? Aboriginal gambling in the Kimberley region. Med J Aust. 1988, 149 (11–12): 668-672.PubMed
63.
Paradies Y: A review of psychosocial stress and chronic disease for 4th world indigenous peoples and African Americans. Ethn Dis. 2006, 16 (1): 295-308.PubMed
Metadata
Title
Changes in exposure to ‘life stressors’ in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, 2002 to 2008
Authors
Matthew Stevens
Yin Paradies
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-144

Other articles of this Issue 1/2014

BMC Public Health 1/2014 Go to the issue

Research article

Do low-income neighbourhoods have the least green space? A cross-sectional study of Australia’s most populous cities

Research article

Identifying predictors of blood pressure control in the Lebanese population - a national, multicentric survey – I-PREDICT

Research article

Chlamydia trachomatisinfection among female inmates at Briman prison in Saudi Arabia

Research article

Immunization knowledge and practice among Malaysian parents: a questionnaire development and pilot-testing

Research article

Socio-cultural factors influencing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria: a synthesis of the literature

Research article

Perceived family support regarding condom use and condom use among secondary school female students in Limbe urban city of Cameroon