Page 18 - IB Dec 2020

Language fluency

and mental

disorders

A study of Pacific mothers in New Zealand reveals that being
fluent in both English and Pacific languages may decrease the
likelihood of postpartum mental disorders.
English-and-Pacific speaking mothers had the lowest rate of
mental disorder symptoms, followed by those fluent in Pacific
languages only. Both were significantly lower than their English-
only speaking peers.
Associate Professor El-Shadan Tautolo, Director of the
Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study at Auckland University
of Technology (AUT), says: “Language fluency speaks to a
person’s ethnic identity, who they are and where they come
from. And a strong sense of self and belonging is associated with
psychological benefits.
“Heritage language is a critical component of ethnic identity
among Pacific people in New Zealand. These findings suggest
that supporting Pacific languages and English may confer mental
health benefits for Pacific mothers, and potentially our families
and communities.”
The study, Pacific and English language fluency and mental
disorder symptom indications among Pacific mothers in New
Zealand, published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health,
utilised data collected by the PIF Study.
It expands on previous research into the association between
bilingualism (or multilingualism) and mental health among
Pacific people, by including new measures (cultural orientation
and the number of years lived in New Zealand) together with
sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics.
Researchers analysed an eligible sample of 1272 Pacific
Associate Professor El-Shadan Tautolo, Director of the Pacific Islands Families
mothers. Data was collected in three phases, at six weeks, one- (PIF) Study at Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
year and two years following their infant’s birth. At the baseline,
the mothers’ average age was 28 years, and most were married
or in a de facto relationship (80 percent). By ethnicity, the largest Interestingly, the number of years lived in New Zealand had no
groups were Samoan (51 percent), Tongan (23 percent), and bearing on mental disorder symptoms when language fluency and
Cook Islands Māori (18 percent). cultural orientation were included in the model.
Mental disorder symptoms were lowest among English-and- “Immigration, cultural orientation and ethnic identity are fluid.
Pacific speakers in the three phases of data collection (15, 10 This demographic shift is likely to affect the notion of Pacific
and 5 percent, respectively), followed by those fluent in Pacific identity in New Zealand and what heritage languages mean in the
languages (15, 11 and 6 percent). In contrast, the prevalence of future,” says Tautolo.
symptoms was significantly higher among English-only speakers As a specialist in Pacific health and wellbeing, he is pleased to
(18, 16 and 15 percent). see more and more Pacific translations of public health material,
Only 27 percent of participants were fluent in both English and and people working to improve health literacy among Pacific
Pacific languages. communities.
New Zealand-born Pacific people were more likely to be fluent “We cannot underestimate the importance of having people
in English only. who look the same and speak the same language in our healthcare
Previous studies have shown that not speaking their heritage system, and how that supports better health outcomes for Pacific
language was associated with perceived inauthenticity and was a people,” says Tautolo.
basis for exclusion. This rejection may explain why English-only AUT has developed a Pacific language video series –
speakers have a higher propensity for mental illness. ‘Adapting to a changing world, shaping resilient futures’ –
“The relationship between language fluency, cultural orientation which highlights PIF Study research on health, mental health,
and the number of years lived in New Zealand is complex, and nutrition, immunisation, and cultural resilience. Each video
differs between younger New Zealand-born and older Island- corresponds with one of nine Pacific Language Weeks celebrated
born groups. This has fostered cultural shifts and tensions, and in New Zealand. The initiative was led by the Office of Pacific
distinctive sub-cultures,” says Tautolo. Advancement and celebrates 20 years of the PIF Study.
18 Islands Business, December 2020