Children who grow up in state homes have more behaviour issues in early childhood than those who don't, but they largely converge by early adolescence to have similar or higher wellbeing.
That's according to a new analysis by Motu Research - using data from nearly 6,000 children in the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study. Children who begin life in public housing show higher problematic behaviour in early childhood out to age 2, but these decline over time, with wellbeing levels by age twelve similar to or higher than those of children in other housing tenures.
Researchers expected families that moved around to show an impact on wellbeing, but found most children were resilient to moving. Strong relationships played a more critical role, they said. Jaimie Monk is a research fellow at Motu Research
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
