Big cities, small towns and adolescent mental health in New Zealand.

We examined the relationship between measures of mental health and residential locations with differing population densities in a large sample of New Zealand adolescents. There were no significant differences across residential locations in the prevalence of DSM-III disorders, poor social competence and level of help-seeking behaviours. However, adolescents from larger population centres reported more life event stresses. Those adolescents who experienced more frequent changes of residence were at risk for mental health problems.