At the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: mental health status of ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand
This study employed an intersectionality approach to examine mental health outcomes among ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand. We analysed Youth’19 secondary school survey data and reviewed literature focusing on the experiences of ethnic minority youth who identify as female and/or sexual...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Kōtuitui |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2520398 |
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| author | Naomi Simon-Kumar Arier Lee Shanthi Ameratunga Roshini Peiris-John |
| author_facet | Naomi Simon-Kumar Arier Lee Shanthi Ameratunga Roshini Peiris-John |
| author_sort | Naomi Simon-Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study employed an intersectionality approach to examine mental health outcomes among ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand. We analysed Youth’19 secondary school survey data and reviewed literature focusing on the experiences of ethnic minority youth who identify as female and/or sexual and gender minority (SGM). Our findings revealed significant disparities, with ethnic female and SGM youth reporting higher rates of poor wellbeing, depressive symptoms, and suicide attempts compared to their male and cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Experiences of racism intersect with sexism and cis-heterosexism to impact mental health outcomes for ethnic SGM youth, who face unique challenges due to cultural expectations, family relationships, and experiences of marginalisation in both ethnic and LGBTQI+ communities. While some protective factors like family support were identified in the literature, ethnic SGM youth struggle with internalised stigma, identity conflicts, and barriers to accessing culturally responsive mental health services. The findings highlight the importance of considering the multiplicity of marginalised identities that may be overlooked when focusing on single identity categories. Intersectional approaches provide an opportunity to gain a more nuanced understanding of the health status of New Zealand's ethnic minority populations, that goes beyond the healthy migrant effect. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6878e4b57cc443e1b1f3f91e5a2b053e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1177-083X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Kōtuitui |
| spelling | doaj-art-6878e4b57cc443e1b1f3f91e5a2b053e2025-08-20T03:15:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupKōtuitui1177-083X2025-07-0120332534210.1080/1177083X.2025.2520398At the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: mental health status of ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New ZealandNaomi Simon-Kumar0Arier Lee1Shanthi Ameratunga2Roshini Peiris-John3Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, USASchool of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New ZealandThis study employed an intersectionality approach to examine mental health outcomes among ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand. We analysed Youth’19 secondary school survey data and reviewed literature focusing on the experiences of ethnic minority youth who identify as female and/or sexual and gender minority (SGM). Our findings revealed significant disparities, with ethnic female and SGM youth reporting higher rates of poor wellbeing, depressive symptoms, and suicide attempts compared to their male and cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Experiences of racism intersect with sexism and cis-heterosexism to impact mental health outcomes for ethnic SGM youth, who face unique challenges due to cultural expectations, family relationships, and experiences of marginalisation in both ethnic and LGBTQI+ communities. While some protective factors like family support were identified in the literature, ethnic SGM youth struggle with internalised stigma, identity conflicts, and barriers to accessing culturally responsive mental health services. The findings highlight the importance of considering the multiplicity of marginalised identities that may be overlooked when focusing on single identity categories. Intersectional approaches provide an opportunity to gain a more nuanced understanding of the health status of New Zealand's ethnic minority populations, that goes beyond the healthy migrant effect.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2520398Intersectionalityyouth mental healthAotearoa New ZealandethnicLGBTQI+ |
| spellingShingle | Naomi Simon-Kumar Arier Lee Shanthi Ameratunga Roshini Peiris-John At the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: mental health status of ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand Kōtuitui Intersectionality youth mental health Aotearoa New Zealand ethnic LGBTQI+ |
| title | At the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: mental health status of ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_full | At the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: mental health status of ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | At the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: mental health status of ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | At the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: mental health status of ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_short | At the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: mental health status of ethnic minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_sort | at the intersection of ethnicity gender and sexual orientation mental health status of ethnic minority youth in aotearoa new zealand |
| topic | Intersectionality youth mental health Aotearoa New Zealand ethnic LGBTQI+ |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2520398 |
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