“Sleep is so critical for fanau wellbeing across all the generations”: Insights from Pacific mothers and caregivers in Aotearoa New Zealand
Main Article Content
Keywords
Sleep health, Pacific children, Pacific Health, Pacific wellbeing
Abstract
Introduction: Sleep is a fundamental aspect of child development and family wellbeing. Despite sleep recommendations, Māori and Pacific children in Aotearoa New Zealand do not meet the recommended sleep hours. In Pacific cultures, where collectivism and intergenerational support are deeply ingrained, understanding the nuances of sleep practices within the context of family dynamics is essential for promoting optimal child health and family wellbeing. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of sleep in the wellbeing of Pacific families and communities.
Method: This study was guided by the Kakala research approach and talanoa methodology. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, online talanoa sessions were conducted via Zoom with mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers of Pacific children aged three or younger. Between October 2021 to February 2022, 26 participants, including mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and other caregivers, engaged in one of six group talanoa sessions lasting 60-90 minutes each.
Results: The analysis identified five key themes: (1) Sleep is critical for family wellbeing; (2) Establishing sleep routines; (3) Navigating sleep preparation; (4) Challenges; and (5) Culturally responsive approaches. Participants stressed the crucial role of sleep for the wellbeing of parents, caregivers, and the entire family, emphasising the need for consistent sleep routines. Incorporating – or learning to incorporate - traditional and cultural methods, such as lullabies, storytelling, massage, and prayer, into sleep routines was essential. Much of the insights emphasise the significance of sleep not only as a matter of child health but also as a collective responsibility within an intergenerational family unit.
Conclusions: This research emphasises the crucial role of sleep in the wellbeing of Pacific families and communities. It also recognises the significance of sleep not only as a matter of child health but also as a collective responsibility within an intergenerational family unit. Integrating cultural values into sleep routines underscores the necessity for culturally anchored interventions to promote healthy sleep habits.
References
Attard, K., L. Clarkson, and S. Blunden. Australian Indigenous Paediatric Sleep: A Descriptive Snapshot. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2017. 2017: p. 44.
Blunden, S., Fatima, Y., & Yiallourou, S. (2021). Sleep health in Indigenous Australian children: a systematic review. Sleep medicine, 80, 305–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2021.01.065
Burrows J, Williams M, Schluter P, Paterson J, Helu SL. The association of infant health risk indicators and acculturation of Pacific Island mothers living in New Zealand. J Cross-Cult Psychol. 2011;42(5):699-724.
Chaput, J., Gray, C.E., Poitras, V.J., Carson, V., Gruber, R., Birken, C.S., MacLean, J.E., Aubert, S., Sampson, M., & Tremblay, M.S. (2017). Systematic review of the relationships between sleep duration and health indicators in the early years (0–4 years). BMC Public Health, 17.
Fangupo, L. J., Lucas, A. W., Taylor, R. W., Camp, J., & Richards, R. (2022). Sleep and parenting in ethnically diverse Pacific families in southern New Zealand: A qualitative exploration. Sleep Health, 8(1), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2021.11.002
Fatima, Y., Doi, S. A., & Manum, A. A. (2015). Longitudinal impact of sleep on overweight and obesity in children and adolescents: A systematic review and bias-adjusted meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 16(2), 137-149.
George, M., Richards, R., Watson, B., Lucas, A., Fitzgerald, R., Taylor, R., & Galland, B. (2021). Pacific families navigating responsiveness and children's sleep in Aotearoa New Zealand. Sleep medicine: X, 3, 100039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleepx.2021.100039
Johansson Fua, S. (2014). Kakala research framework: A garland in celebration of a decade of rethinking education. In (Ed.), Of waves, winds and wonderful things: A decade of rethinking Pacific education (pp. 50-60). USP Press.
Manuela S, Sibley CG. The Pacific Identity and Wellingbeing Scale (PIWBS): A culturally appropriate self-report measure for Pacific peoples in New Zealand. Soc Indicat Res. 2013;112(1):83-103.
Meaklim, H., & Kyle, S. D. (2020). Sleep and mental health in the general population. In Sleep and Mental Illness (pp. 1-14). Cambridge University Press.
Medic, G., M. Wille, and M.E. Hemels, Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nature and science of sleep, 2017. 9: p. 151-161.
Mindell, J. A., & Williamson, A. A. (2018). Benefits of a bedtime routine in young children: Sleep, development, and beyond. Sleep medicine reviews, 40, 93–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2017.10.007
Ministry for Pacific Peoples. (2018a). Yavu: Foundations of Pacific development. Wellington: Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Available from: https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/MPP8836-Yavu-Pacific-Engagement-Digital-Book.pdf
Ministry for Pacific peoples. (2018b). Pacific Aotearoa Lalanga Fou. Wellington: Ministry for Pacific Peoples; 2018. Available from https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Reports/Pacific-Aotearoa-Lalanga-Fou-Report.pdf
Ministry for Pacific Peoples. (2020). Pacific Aotearoa status report: A snapshot. Wellington, New Zealand: 2020. Available from https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Reports/Pacific-Peoples-in-Aotearoa-Report.pdf
Ministry for Pacific Peoples. (2022). All-of-Government Pacific Wellbeing Strategy. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Available from https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Reports/Pacific-Wellbeing-Strategy-2022/All-of-Government-Pacific-Wellbeing-Strategy.pdf
Muller, D., Signal, T. L., Santos-Fernández, E., McCarthy, J., Carr, H. (2020). Are NZ children meeting the Ministry of Health guidelines for sleep? Ministry for Social Development: Wellington. Available from https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/are-nz-children-meeting-the-moh-guidelines-for-sleep/are-nz-children-meeting-the-moh-guidelines-for-sleep-final-21august.pdf
Muller, D., Santos-Fernández, E., McCarthy, J., Carr, H., & Signal, T. L. (2022). Who meets national early childhood sleep guidelines in Aotearoa New Zealand? A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. Sleep Advances: A Journal of the Sleep Research Society, 3(1), zpac002. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac002
Newland, R. P., Parade, S. H., Dickstein, S., & Seifer, R. (2016). Goodness of fit between prenatal maternal sleep and infant sleep: Associations with maternal depression and attachment security. Infant Behavior and Development, 44, 179-188.
Lilo L, Tautolo E, Egli V and Smith M. Health literacy of Pacific mothers in New Zealand is associated with sociodemographic and non-communicable disease risk factors: surveys, focus groups and interviews. Pacific Health Dialog. 2018; 212: 65-70. https://doi:10.26635/phd.2018.914
Thaman, K. H. (1997). Kakala: A Pacific concept of teaching and learning. Paper presented at the Australian College of Education National Conference, Cairns.
Taua’i E, Richards R, Kokaua J. Is Pacific language ability protective of prevalence of mental disorders among Pacific peoples in New Zealand? Pacif Health Dialog. 2018;21(1):10-16.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Articles on this website and article downloads are provided free of charge by Open Access under a Creative Commons with the author retaining all copyright to the material. eg © PacifichealthDialog 2021. Except as provided by the NZ Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the Pacific Health Dialog. Manuscripts can be used for private study but must not be used for commercial purposes.