New Zealand's Muslim Youth Integrate Well Says Report

New Zealand’s Young Muslims Integrate Well Says Report

Muslim Youth. Credit: Meanest Indian/flickr

A report conducted by Wellington’s Victoria University has found young Muslims living in New Zealand have adapted well to society.

The study looked at the lives of 180 Muslim youths aged 13 to 19 years and gauged their psychological and social well-being based on life satisfaction, psychological symptoms, school adjustment and behavioural problems, according to information supplied in a university news release.

The study found that, while the Muslim youths integrated well into society, and identified strongly as New Zealanders, their freedom to continue cultural practices as Muslims led to their psychological well-being. The research found Muslims outscored other youth in positive outcomes using the studied criteria.

Professor Colleen Ward from Victoria University’s Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research gave credit to New Zealand’s tolerant society.

“Immigrant and minority youth thrive when they are able to maintain their religious and cultural traditions and participate in a fair and equitable way in New Zealand society. Integration is beneficial for individuals, communities and wider society,” said Professor Ward.

The research was conducted as part of a Foundation for Research, Science and Technology funded project, ‘Youth Voices, Youth Choices’, said the release adding the research was part of a series of workshops on Muslim youth in New Zealand.

The workshops are supported by the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) and the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils (NZFMC).