Now We Are Fifteen; Findings and Reflections on Growing Up Study
- Maddie Barrett
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
Over 6,000 New Zealand children and their families are central to Growing Up in New Zealand, the country's most extensive contemporary longitudinal study on child development. This University of Auckland study has been tracking these children's lives since 2009 and 2010, even before their birth. Researchers visit the children and their parents approximately every three years to collect essential data, growing our understanding of what it means to grow up in the complex world of 21st-century New Zealand. The 6,000 children make up a dataset that represents the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of New Zealand today, providing an accurate depiction of the varied experiences of our tamariki.
Now we are Fifteen:
This is the most recent report on the findings from the group of young people as they move through middle adolescence. The information for this part of the study was collected in 2025 from more than 4,000 young people and their main caregivers, when they were around 15 years old and in Year 11 at school.
The findings from the 15-Year Checkpoint are detailed in three snapshot reports that examine young people's educational experiences, mental health and wellbeing, as well as their encounters with self-harm and suicidal thoughts. These snapshots provide important insights into life at age 15 and emphasise the factors influencing learning, resilience, and connection during this developmental stage.
The snapshot findings are:
Mental health and wellbeing patterns varied across gender identities: cisgender girls, transgender, and non-binary youth reported higher anxiety and depression symptoms, and poorer mental wellbeing than cisgender boys, yet also reported more positive peer relationships.
Overall, young people who were identified as having a disability reported poorer mental wellbeing, less positive peer relationships, and higher symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to those without a disability.
Experiencing any form of discrimination was associated with lower levels of mental wellbeing, higher anxiety symptoms, higher depression symptoms, and having less positive peer relationships.
Higher school satisfaction and higher academic buoyancy was associated with greater mental wellbeing, fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and more positive peer relationships.
Most young people reported relatively positive peer relationships: 84% of young people reported having good friends, and 79% reported trusting their friends. When other factors are considered, having positive peer relationships was linked to better mental well-being and lower anxiety and depression symptoms.
These snapshots provide an intriguing overview of what these young people are currently experiencing.
Young people are experiencing anxiety, depression, and discrimination, which are all contributing to worse outcomes in other areas of life. However, the power of supportive and positive peer relationships is incredible for young people. Almost 40% of young people said that their friends consistently encouraged them to talk about their difficulties. Furthermore, positive peer relationships were fostered by greater cultural connection, not experiencing discrimination, greater satisfaction with school, and higher levels of academic buoyancy.
As a mental health charity that supports young people, these findings are both concerning and hopeful. We believe in the resilience of young people, and it is truly heartwarming to see just how meaningful and powerful good relationships can be. For LGBTQ+ youth and youth with disabilities who experience worse mental health outcomes and treatment, we know that they deserve better prevention and postvention resources to increase their well-being.
Programmes, such as Travellers or Tai-oranga, are well-suited to help young people close to this age range by encouraging resilience and wellbeing through various activities and formats. If this programme, or other Skylight programmes sound like a good fit, or you just want to know more, please reach out to us.
Explore the website - https://www.growingup.co.nz/now-we-are-fifteen to learn more about this study and their reports.
