The sanctity of life: The role of purity in attitudes towards abortion and euthanasia.

Although abortion and euthanasia are highly contested issues at the heart of the culture war, the moral foundations underlying ideological differences on these issues are mostly unknown. Given that much of the extant debate is framed around the sanctity of life, we argued that the moral foundation of purity/sanctity-a core moral belief that emphasises adherence to the "natural order"-would mediate the negative relationship between conservatism and support for abortion and euthanasia. As hypothesised, results from a nation-wide random sample of adults in New Zealand (N = 3360) revealed that purity/sanctity mediated the relationship between conservatism and opposition to both policies. These results demonstrate that, rather than being motivated by a desire to reduce harm, conservative opposition to pro-choice and end-of-life decisions is (partly) based on the view that ending a life, even if it is one's own, violates God's natural design and, thus, stains one's spiritual purity.

The Diversity and Prevalence of Sexual Orientation Self-Labels in a New Zealand National Sample.

In this study, we asked participants to "describe their sexual orientation" in an open-ended measure of self-generated sexual orientation. The question was included as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (N = 18,261) 2013/2014 wave, a national probability survey conducted shortly after the first legal same-sex marriages in New Zealand. We present a two-level classification scheme to address questions about the prevalence of, and demographic differences between, sexual orientations. At the most detailed level of the coding scheme, 49 unique categories were generated by participant responses. Of those who responded with the following, significantly more were women: bisexual (2.1 % of women, compared to 1.5 % of men), bicurious (0.7 % of women, 0.4 % of men), and asexual (0.4 % of women and less than 0.1 % of men). However, significantly fewer women than men reported being lesbian or gay (1.8 % of women, compared to 3.5 % of men). Those openly identifying as bicurious, bisexual, or lesbian/gay were significantly younger than those with a heterosexual orientation. This study shows diversity in the terms used in self-generated sexual orientations, and provides up-to-date gender, age, and prevalence estimates for the New Zealand population. Finally, results reveal that a substantial minority of participants may not have understood the question about sexual orientation.

Examining age, period and cohort effects in attitude change to childhood vaccinations in a representative New Zealand survey: a multiyear cohort-sequential growth modelling study.

OBJECTIVES: Vaccinations are an important preventative measure in reducing the spread of infectious diseases worldwide. However, concerns of undervaccination during childhood have become increasingly common. The current study aims to investigate changes in attitudes towards childhood vaccinations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic using a national sample from New Zealand. DESIGN: Age-based, period-based, and cohort-based changes were assessed using cohort-sequential latent growth modelling in 11 overlapping birth cohorts, which spanned the ages of 23-79 years. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were taken from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study where 58 654 adults completed at least one wave across a 7-year period (2013 and 2015-2019). RESULTS: The period-based and cohort-based models fit the data equally well (χ2(282)=8547.93, p<0.001, comparative fit index, CFI=0.894, root mean square error of approximation, (RMSEA)=0.074, standardised root mean square residual, SRMR=0.105; χ2(273)=8514.87, p<0.001, CFI=0.894, RMSEA=0.075, SRMR=0.105, respectively) suggesting societal factors contribute to childhood vaccination attitudes. Additionally, the findings suggest attitudes towards childhood vaccinations were becoming increasingly more positive in all birth cohorts (ps<0.001), with younger and older birth cohorts exhibiting even positive attitudes compared with middle-aged cohorts. CONCLUSION: Overall, both the cohort-based and period-based models reveal changes in vaccination attitudes suggesting that even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, societal influences had an impact on attitudes towards childhood vaccination.

Ethnic group differences in patient satisfaction with GP services: findings from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study.

AIM: To identify key predictors of general practitioner (GP) satisfaction and increase insight into the mechanisms behind ethnic health inequities in New Zealand. METHOD: Regression analyses were conducted using data from the 2019 New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (n=38,465). RESULTS: Initially, Maori and Asian peoples showed lower, and Pasifika peoples showed no significant difference in GP satisfaction level relative to New Zealand (NZ) Europeans. However, after accounting for differences in patient-perceived GP cultural respect and GP ethnic similarity, Maori and Pasifika peoples showed higher and Asian peoples showed no difference in GP satisfaction level relative to NZ Europeans. These effects continued to hold when adjusting for a range of demographic factors. Subsequent regression analyses were conducted to investigate the impact of GP perceptions, GP satisfaction and demographic factors on healthcare access satisfaction and health status across ethnic groups. For all ethnic groups, GP satisfaction was the strongest predictor of satisfaction with access to healthcare. Higher GP satisfaction was also a significant predictor of higher self-rated health and lower psychological distress. CONCLUSION: Lack of GP cultural respect is a key contributor to lower GP satisfaction among ethnic minorities, which can further exacerbate inequities in healthcare access and health outcomes. Interventions to enhance GPs' provision of culturally respectful and safe healthcare services may help reduce ethnic health inequities and improve population health.

Increased sleep predicts annual decreases in psychological distress: Results from a 6-year longitudinal panel sample.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the annual temporal ordering of sleep quantity and psychological distress, separating between-person stability from within-person change. DESIGN: Random-intercepts cross-lagged panel model using 6 annual waves of longitudinal data from the New Zealand Attitudes Values Study postal questionnaire. PARTICIPANTS: New Zealand Attitudes Values Study respondents in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 (Ns = 17,890; 15,757; 13,904; 21,849; 17,031; and 47,462). MEASUREMENTS: Participants were asked, "During the past month, on average, how many hours of actual sleep did you get per night?" and responded to the K6 psychological distress scale each year. They also reported their demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Identified longitudinal associations between sleep duration and psychological distress in a traditional cross-lagged panel model were mostly attributable to the stability of the between-person differences in sleep duration and psychological distress. We provide evidence to suggest that increased sleep duration as indicated over a short period of time (ie, 1 month) predicted lower within-person levels of psychological distress the following year. Psychological distress did not predict sleep duration, in contrast. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses suggest that sleep duration in this sample of New Zealanders precedes psychological distress. This is significant given the propensity for short sleep in this sample and issues of poor mental health and short sleep among low SES indigenous members of this community. The promotion of adequate sleep duration may yield positive gains in psychological well-being.

Ethnic disparities in vaccine safety attitudes and perceptions of family doctors/general practitioners.

Ethnic groups have disparate perceptions of and experiences with family doctors/General Practitioners (GP), yet little is known about differences in GP influence on vaccine safety perceptions across ethnic groups in New Zealand. Using data from the 2017 New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study survey (N = 17,072), the current study investigates the correlation between vaccine safety agreement and GP satisfaction, perceived GP cultural similarity, GP cultural respect, healthcare access and diverse demographic factors among Maori, Pacific, Asian and European New Zealanders. Europeans expressed greater positive perceptions of GPs and high vaccine safety agreement (74.7%) relative to other ethnic groups (Asian: 72.3%; Pacific: 65.8%; Maori: 59.4%). Increased GP satisfaction, healthcare access and education were key correlates of higher vaccine safety agreement among Europeans. Increased GP satisfaction, healthcare access and being non-religious were key correlates among Maori. Higher vaccine safety agreement was significantly and strongly associated with being non-religious, born overseas and having a partner among Pacific peoples. Among Asian peoples, men, younger, more educated individuals, and those with greater perceived GP cultural respect showed higher agreement. Our findings highlight important ethnic differences in the shaping of vaccine attitudes and inform the development of tailored interventions for specific ethnic groups.

Attitudes toward vaccinations are becoming more polarized in New Zealand: Findings from a longitudinal survey.

BACKGROUND: Despite continuing vaccine controversies, little is known about the trajectory of change in vaccine confidence over time. The current study examined whether there are subpopulations among the New Zealand public with diverging trajectories of confidence in the safety of childhood vaccinations from 2013 to 2017. METHODS: Using longitudinal survey data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study, latent class growth models identified subpopulations with distinct rates and directions of change in vaccine confidence from 2013 to 2017 (N= 12,423; 11,912; 12,009; 10,254). The demographic profiles of these subpopulations were examined. FINDINGS: Most New Zealanders' (60%) maintained strong vaccine confidence throughout the years (i.e. vaccine believers), but 30% expressed decreasing confidence over time (i.e. vaccine skeptics). Around 10% were former skeptics who had low vaccine confidence in 2013 but showed increasing confidence thereafter. Men, Europeans/Others, those more educated and living in more affluent regions were more likely to be vaccine believers. Relative to former skeptics, women, older individuals and those with lower education were more likely to be vaccine skeptics. INTERPRETATION: Attitudes toward the safety of childhood vaccinations are becoming increasingly polarized in New Zealand. Roughly 30% of the population are becoming more concerned about vaccine safety over time, 10% are becoming more confident, whereas 60% show consistent high vaccine confidence. It is vital to further investigate the key contributors to decreasing confidence among vaccine skeptics and implement target interventions. FUNDING: Templeton Religion Trust Grant (TRT0196) for data collection; Corresponding author supported by University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship.

Maternal and paternal confidence in vaccine safety: Whose attitudes are predictive of children's vaccination?

Relatively little is known about the differential impact of maternal and paternal perceptions of vaccine safety on children's vaccination status in New Zealand. Using a sample of 68 couples from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), the present study investigated the distinct influence of mothers' and fathers' confidence in the safety of childhood vaccinations following the national immunisation schedule on their reports of children's vaccination status. Actor-Partner Interdependence Modelling revealed that mothers', but not fathers', vaccine confidence predicted children's vaccination status, regardless of who reported their children's vaccination status. Higher maternal vaccine confidence increased the likelihood of child full vaccination status, but paternal vaccine confidence showed no unique significant effects. As women tend to express lower vaccine confidence than men, it is imperative to further investigate the key drivers of their low confidence and develop target interventions accordingly. Encouraging fathers' involvement in the vaccination decision-making process may also be beneficial in increasing the likelihood of childhood vaccination uptake.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown on trust, attitudes toward government, and well-being.

The contagiousness and deadliness of COVID-19 have necessitated drastic social management to halt transmission. The immediate effects of a nationwide lockdown were investigated by comparing matched samples of New Zealanders assessed before (Nprelockdown = 1,003) and during the first 18 days of lockdown (Nlockdown = 1,003). Two categories of outcomes were examined: (a) institutional trust and attitudes toward the nation and government and (b) health and well-being. Applying propensity score matching to approximate the conditions of a randomized controlled experiment, the study found that people in the pandemic/lockdown group reported higher trust in science, politicians, and police, higher levels of patriotism, and higher rates of mental distress compared to people in the prelockdown prepandemic group. Results were confirmed in within-subjects analyses. The study highlights social connectedness, resilience, and vulnerability in the face of adversity and has applied implications for how countries face this global challenge. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Demographic and Psychological Factors Associated with Feelings of Antibiotic Entitlement in New Zealand.

Patients' expectations of being prescribed antibiotics can have an important influence on inappropriate prescribing. Therefore, it is important to understand the drivers of patients' antibiotic expectations. The 2015/16 New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study measured sense of entitlement to antibiotics in a nationally representative sample of New Zealanders (n = 13,484). Participants were asked to rate their agreement with the statement "If I go to my doctor/GP with a minor illness (e.g., sore throat, cough, runny nose, etc.), I think that I should be prescribed antibiotics by default." Eighty percent of participants showed low feelings of antibiotic entitlement, while 18.5% exhibited moderate and 3.7% high feelings of entitlement. People of ethnic minority, lower socio-economic status, and with diabetes expressed higher expectations of being prescribed antibiotics. This may be partially based on a higher risk of rheumatic fever or other complications. Men, religious people, those with lower educational attainment and self-rated health, but greater psychological distress and feelings of control over their health exhibited higher feelings of antibiotic entitlement. Those high on Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Narcissism, but low on Agreeableness and Openness, also showed greater feelings of entitlement. Our findings help identify key characteristics of those more likely to express inappropriate expectations of antibiotic prescription.

Personality and demographic correlates of New Zealanders' confidence in the safety of childhood vaccinations.

Despite extensive scientific evidence on the safety of standard vaccinations, some parents express skeptical attitudes towards the safety of childhood immunisations. This paper uses data from the 2013/14 New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS) survey (N=16,642) to explore the distribution, and demographic and personality correlates of New Zealanders' attitudes towards the safety of childhood vaccinations. Around two thirds (68.5%) of New Zealanders strongly agreed/were confident that "it is safe to vaccinate children following the standard New Zealand immunisation schedule," 26% were skeptical and 5.5% were strongly opposed. Multiple regression analysis indicated that people lower on Conscientiousness and Agreeableness but higher on Openness to Experience expressed lower confidence about vaccine safety. Having higher subjective health satisfaction, living rurally, being Maori, single, employed and not a parent were all associated with lower confidence, while a higher income and educational attainment were associated with greater confidence. Our findings suggest that the majority of New Zealand adults trust in the safety of scheduled childhood vaccinations, but about one third do express some degree of concern. This finding highlights the importance of improving public education about the safety and necessity of vaccinations.