Next Generation - Aboriginal Youth Wellbeing Study
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Sandra EadesProfessor
Project Details
Despite the importance of transitions in adolescence to future health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people have received little attention in recent efforts to close the gap in Aboriginal health and disadvantage, and there are major gaps in evidence looking at young people’s health and wellbeing over time. The Next Generation project aims to build an evidence base to fill this gap and to guide health services and social policies to help those young people most in need.
Project summary
Next Generation’, designed as a longitudinal cohort, assesses the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents and youth aged 10 to 24 years from Central Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia. During Phase 1 of the study, we undertook focus groups and interviews with a sample of youths, their parents/carers and healthcare providers to assemble new knowledge around their views as to the barriers and facilitators related to making healthy and productive trajectories into adulthood. Separate youth focus groups were conducted in the following age groups: 10-13 years, 14-17 years, and 18-24 years. Primary health care providers of young people aged 10-24 were also interviewed to assess health service use and accessibility. Parents/caregivers of adolescents and youths were also interviewed to explore their views on the health needs of their children.
During Wave 1 of the study, we recruited over 1200 participants to complete baseline surveys and clinical measures (health assessments). We aim to commence Wave 2 in early 2024 for a follow-up survey. The study questionnaire includes six key domains: 1) Social and Emotional Wellbeing; 2) Aboriginal cultural engagement 3) Social determinants of health 4) Adolescent physical health conditions & Injury; 5) Sexual/reproductive health and parenting; 6) Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and other drug use. The clinical measures include; physical measures (height, weight, blood pressure, waist and hip circumference), point of care finger prick blood tests (lipids & HbA1c- measuring blood glucose and cholesterol), and kidney function (urinary albumin creatinine ratio).
Researchers
Professor Sandra Eades - Indigenous Epidemiology and Health Unit Head
Professor Rebecca Ivers
Assoc Prof Bette Liu
Assoc Prof Grace Joshy
Dr Aryati Yashadhana
Assoc Simon Graham
Prof Michael Skilton
Assoc Prof Peter Azzopardi
Collaborators
Community Partner Organisations: The study has partnered with two Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs): Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service in Perth and Mingaletta Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation in New South Wales. These ACCHOs act as central community hubs, supporting outreach efforts and aiding in the recruitment of potential participants.
Funding
NHMRC Project Grant [2015208; 2022-2027]
Research Publications
Graham S, Heris C, Gubhaju, L, Eades F, Williams R, Davis K, Whitby J, Hunt K, Chimote N, Eades S. Young Aboriginal people in Australia who have never used marijuana in the ‘Next Generation Youth Well-being study’: A strengths-based approach. International Journal of Drug Policy. 2021, 95: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103258.
McKay CD, Gubhaju L, Gibberd AJ, McNamara BJ, Banks E, Azzopardi P, Williams R, Eades S. Cardiometabolic health markers among Aboriginal adolescents from the Next Generation Youth Wellbeing Cohort Study. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2024 Apr;48(2):100139.
McKay CD, Gubhaju L, Gibberd AJ, McNamara BJ, Macniven R, Joshy G, Roseby R, Williams R, Yashadhana A, Fields T, Porykali B, Azzopardi P, Banks E, Eades SJ. Health behaviours associated with healthy body composition among Aboriginal adolescents in Australia in the 'Next Generation: Youth Well-being study'. Prev Med. 2023 Oct;175:107715.