EWS 06
Physical Health
05.04.2023

Physical health

Physical health and safety can be directly or indirectly affected by extreme weather events.Hazards caused by the Auckland Anniversary Weekend Flooding and/or Cyclone Gabrielle put people at risk of injury and, in some cases, mortality. Growing Up in New Zealand asked about physical health impacts for the young person and their primary caregiver.
‍
‍Physical injury – young person
‍Most (97.1%, n = 660) young people reported they were not physically injured because of the floods and/or cyclone.
‍
‍Physical injury and trauma – mother/primary caregiver
‍Of those who participated in the extreme weather survey, most (92.8%, n = 758)mothers/primary caregivers reported that they were not physically injured during the floods and/or cyclone (5.1% missing). Additionally, most (92.0%, n = 752) mothers/primary caregivers reported that no one in their family was physically injured or died (5.3% missing). The majority(86.2%, n = 704) of mothers/primary caregivers who participated in the extreme weather survey reported that they didn’t know anyone else that had been injured (5.5% missing).

Trauma following the floods and/or cyclone

Mother reported traumatised
Mother reported family member traumatised
Mother reported someone else traumatised
MotherFamilySomeone else

Figure 32 . Shows how traumatised mother/primary caregivers felt due to the extreme weather events by whether they were affected, live in an area affected, or not affected reported.

We asked the mothers/primary caregivers whether they were traumatised during the floods and/or cyclone. This graph shows the number of mothers/primary caregivers who reported that they were not traumatised (70.0%, n = 540), were traumatised but are okay now 25.9% (n =200), or were traumatised and are still affected 4.0% (n = 31). The level of trauma experienced(shown by each bar in the graph) is categorised by those who were affected (dark blue; n = 204,26.5%), live in an area that was affected (light blue; n = 226, 29.3%), or were not affected(green; n = 341, 44.2%) by the extreme weather events.

Figure 33 . Shows how traumatised family members felt due to the extreme weather events as reported by the mother/primary caregiver, by whether they were affected, live in an area affected, or not affected.

We asked the mothers/primary caregivers if any of their family members were traumatised during the floods and/or cyclone. This graph shows the number of mothers/primary caregivers who reported that no family members were traumatised (n = 529, 68.6%), a family member experienced trauma but are okay now (n = 194, 25.2%), or a family member experience trauma and is still affected (n = 47, 6.1%). The level of trauma experienced (shown by each bar in the graph) is categorised by those who were affected (dark blue; n = 204, 26.5%), live in an area that was affected (light blue; n = 226, 29.3%), or were not affected (green; n = 341, 44.2%) by the extreme weather events.

Figure 34 . Shows how traumatised someone else (other than family members) was due to the extreme weather events as reported by the mother/primary caregiver, by whether they were affected, live in an area affected, or not affected.

We asked the mothers/primary caregivers if they knew someone else (other than family) who was traumatised during the floods and/or cyclone. This graph shows the number of mothers/primary caregivers who reported that they did not know anyone who was traumatised(n = 338, 43.9%), knew someone who was traumatised but is okay now (n = 217, 28.2%), or knew someone who was traumatised and is still affected (n = 140, 18.2%). The level of trauma experienced (shown by each bar in the graph) is categorised by those who were affected (dark blue; n = 204, 26.5%), live in an area that was affected (light blue; n = 226, 29.4%), or were not affected (green; n = 340, 44.2%) by the extreme weather events.

Sleep

The WHO-LF (NZ version) sleep questions measure difficulty falling asleep, waking frequently in the night, and waking too early during the past four weeks [45]. The WHO-LF sleep scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating lower quality of sleep.

Sleep
Sleep

Figure 35 . Shows young people’s self-reported sleep quality scores by how affected they felt by the extreme weather events.

Sleep - young person
‍The WHO-LF (NZ version) sleep questions measure difficulty falling asleep, waking frequently in the night, and waking too early during the past four weeks [45] . The WHO-LF sleep scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating lower quality of sleep. This graph shows the proportion of sleep scores ranging from 0 to 100 for three groups of young people: those who were affected (dark blue; n = 166, 24.8%, M = 27.63, 95% CI = 24.61-30.65.), knew someone else affected (light blue; n = 184, 27.5%, M = 27.90, 95% CI = 25.00-30.80), or were not affected (green; n = 320, 47.8%, M = 21.83, 95% CI = 19.76-23.91) by the extreme weather events.On average, young people who were affected or knew someone else affected reported lower quality of sleep compared to young people who were not affected by the extreme weather events.

What do you think the Prime Minister could or should do to support young people who might experience a natural disaster, such as flooding, a cyclone, or an earthquake?
“Something to help families affected or not affected like money or food and water supplies and medical support for the people with disabilities like my little brother. Because now he is so scared to go in the rain because he thinks he is going to die. He is only 5 years old”

Young person from South Auckland

“Brighten the spirits of affected people by giving them wellbeing support like counselling”

Young person from South Auckland

“Some kids don’t feel safe going to school after a disaster because they are worried that if it happens again they might not be able to get home. It rained for a while in Auckland and every time it rained we would get worried our school would flood and we wouldn’t be able to get home”

Young person from West Auckland

References

Suggested citation: Gawn, J., Fletcher, B.D., Neumann, D., Pillai, A., Miller, S., Park, A., Napier, C., Paine, S.J. (2024). The impact of extreme weather events on young people and their families: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand. Auckland: Growing Up in New Zealand. Available from: www.growingup.co.nz

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