A research hub providing Pacific clinical psychologists with the latest culturally-grounded research and evidence advancing Pasifika mental health and wellbeing across Aotearoa and the Pacific region.
Research snapshot updates
To Love and to Serve: Exploring the Strengths of Pacific Youth, and Mobilising Them for Community Wellbeing and Transformative Change
Veukiso-Ulugia, A., McLean-Orsborn, S., Nofo’akifolau, R., & Fleming, T. (2025). Youth.
Why it matters: Explores the strengths of Pacific youth in Aotearoa and how those strengths can be mobilised to support community wellbeing and transformative change.
DOI link: View article
Pacific peoples’ conceptualisations of depression in Aotearoa New Zealand: Findings from a cross-sectional survey
Kapeli, S. A., McLean-Orsborn, S., Singh, I., et al. (2025). Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Why it matters: Surveys 548 Pacific people and finds strong recognition of depression symptoms alongside a preference for both informal (friends/whānau) and formal support, challenging the assumption of low mental health literacy among Pacific communities.
DOI link: View article
Innovating through tradition: kava-talanoa as a culturally aligned medico-behavioral therapeutic approach to amelioration of PTSD symptoms
Aporosa, S. A., Itoga, D., Ioane, J., et al. (2025). Frontiers in Psychology.
Why it matters: Outlines a Pacific-led clinical programme integrating kava and talanoa for PTSD treatment, demonstrating a culturally grounded therapeutic approach rooted in Pacific tradition.
DOI link: View article
Pacific Islander Culture-specific Psychotherapy Scale: development and initial psychometric evaluation
Allen, G. E. K., Suh, H. N., Hee, C., & Conklin, H. (2025). Counselling Psychology Quarterly.
Why it matters: Introduces a culture-specific measure to assess how well psychotherapy aligns with Pacific Islander cultural expectations—useful for service design and evaluation.
DOI link: View article
Mai mana: Exploring Pacific peoples’ experiences of resilience in Aotearoa
Taumoepeau, M., Taungapeau, F., Lucas, M., et al. (2025). Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology.
Why it matters: Highlights multilayered resilience among Pacific peoples, showing that family support and spirituality are central to wellbeing and consistent with holistic Pacific worldviews.
DOI link: View article
“It would ruin my life”: Pacific Islander Male Adolescents’ Perceptions of Mental Health Help-Seeking—An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Focus Group Study.
Garrett, M. F., Cutrer-Párraga, E. A., Allen, G. E. K., et al. (2025). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Why it matters: Identifies stigma, fear of consequences, and cultural misalignment as barriers to help-seeking among Pacific male teens. Pointing to the need for culturally safe engagement strategies.
DOI link: View article
