Recent Chinese migrants' health, adjustment to life in New Zealand and primary health care utilization

A community survey of 271 Chinese migrants aged 15 years and older living i n Auckland was conducted to assess self-rated adjustment and health. The ma jority of respondents came from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Despite significant c hanges in their lives, including the absence of family members, unemploymen t and underemployment, most did not report major adjustment problems or reg ret having come to New Zealand. Few considered their health to be poor. For ty-two per cent reported having consulted a doctor within the past 12 weeks . Factors significantly associated with having experienced major problems i ncluded being aged 26-35 years, rejection from locals and having low Englis h proficiency. Factors associated with poor adjustment included expectation s not having been met, regretting coming, low proficiency in English, recen t arrival in New Zealand, unemployment, younger age and lower levels of edu cation. Self-rated fair or poor health was found to be associated with Chin ese-only reading knowledge, residency of more than 5 years and regretting h aving come to New Zealand.