Associate Professor Dr Anita Jagroop-Dearing presented at the April session of EIT Research’s Te Kai a te Rangatira Lunchtime Research Presentation

Associate Professor Dr Anita Jagroop-Dearing and Tania Du Plessis presented at the April session of EIT Research’s  Te Kai a te Rangatira Lunchtime Research Presentation.

Anita presented her research on the actions to address the epidemic of youth vaping among intermediate and high school students in Aotearoa.

“Youth vaping is an epidemic in Aotearoa, with Māori students disproportionately affected. Preliminary data show that they are 2.5 times more likely to vape daily than their peers. Vaping is associated with a number of health risks, including brain development, respiratory, cardiovascular and mental health problems.

“However, there are no in-depth studies in Aotearoa that have identified students’ motivation to vape and what knowledge they have about these health harms. There also does not appear to be appropriate education material available to schools so that we might implement educational interventions.”

The research uses a qualitative approach, including focus groups and one-on-one interviews with intermediate and high school students. While the study is ongoing, Anita says they have done 467 students between the ages of 11-18, 21 percent of whom vape regularly.

Tania, Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) Programme Coordinator, delivered an autoethnographic narrative on early childhood student teachers in a nature-based, outdoor learning environment.

“Growing up with ample experiences in nature and forming a strong connection with it led me to assume that all people value its influence and impact on the holistic development and wellbeing of children.”

Tania says coaching student teachers on facilitating learning for children in nature shed new light on these suppositions when some of them did not share her sentiments.