Experiences and Understandings of Stress and the Role of Social Support in Enhancing Wellbeing Among Youth of Indian Descent in New Zealand
type: CreativeWork
description: Youth of Indian descent in New Zealand are regarded as highly vulnerable to mental health issues, yet these young people are not routinely engaged in exploration of issues or support options and strategies. There is a global prevalence of stress among youth which is of significant concern. Experiences of stress and strategies for addressing stress can be viewed as intertwined with the social, cultural, and familial contexts which shape them. To effectively enhance the wellbeing of this group, it is imperative to explore the complexities of stress within this context. Indian youth who were born in New Zealand, or have migrated here, are exposed to the Western culture in their social environment while also being exposed to their parents’ Indian culture at home. This can result in conflicting beliefs and values. The understandings and voices of young people are underrepresented in discussions of how they navigate their experiences across numerous social and cultural contexts. This study was positioned within the theoretical framework of social constructionism and used intersectionality as a method of analysis to gain insight into the complex interplay of social and cultural factors shaping stress for Indian youth. The methodology employed was narrative inquiry, involving interviews and focus groups conducted with 14 youth, 10 parents, and three school-based counsellors in Auckland, New Zealand. A mediated dialogue method was employed to support parents and counsellors to engage with youth narratives. The thematic analysis was conducted through an intersectionality approach, which made visible the production of multiple constructs of stress experienced by youth of Indian descent in New Zealand. These youth experienced a profound sense of conflict between dominant constructions of valued identities within their native and host (New Zealand) cultures, leading to a sense of not belonging. The findings were also suggestive of the presence of overt and subtle forms of system…
abstract: Youth of Indian descent in New Zealand are regarded as highly vulnerable to mental health issues, yet these young people are not routinely engaged in exploration of issues or support options and strategies. There is a global prevalence of stress among youth which is of significant concern. Experiences of stress and strategies for addressing stress can be viewed as intertwined with the social, cultural, and familial contexts which shape them. To effectively enhance the wellbeing of this group, it is imperative to explore the complexities of stress within this context. Indian youth who were born in New Zealand, or have migrated here, are exposed to the Western culture in their social environment while also being exposed to their parents’ Indian culture at home. This can result in conflicting beliefs and values. The understandings and voices of young people are underrepresented in discussions of how they navigate their experiences across numerous social and cultural contexts. This study was positioned within the theoretical framework of social constructionism and used intersectionality as a method of analysis to gain insight into the complex interplay of social and cultural factors shaping stress for Indian youth. The methodology employed was narrative inquiry, involving interviews and focus groups conducted with 14 youth, 10 parents, and three school-based counsellors in Auckland, New Zealand. A mediated dialogue method was employed to support parents and counsellors to engage with youth narratives. The thematic analysis was conducted through an intersectionality approach, which made visible the production of multiple constructs of stress experienced by youth of Indian descent in New Zealand. These youth experienced a profound sense of conflict between dominant constructions of valued identities within their native and host (New Zealand) cultures, leading to a sense of not belonging. The findings were also suggestive of the presence of overt and subtle forms of system…
author: Bhatia, Anjali
date published: 2023
date modified: 2026-07-27T18:46:16Z
provider: AUT University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: AUT University