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WELL? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
CHAPTER THREE. GENERAL HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
3.1 Respondents were aged between 16 and 94 and the average age was 47 years. The male/female ratio was 46/54. Respondents in the main study sample overwhelmingly described themselves as white/Scottish (90%) with most of the remainder (7%) seeing themselves as white/other British. This reflects the wider population of Scotland.
3.2 Sixty two percent of the people in the sample were married or living as a couple. Almost a quarter of people were single, 9% were widowed and 7% were divorced or separated. Just over one-in-five of those people interviewed lived alone (22%) and nearly one-in-three had a child aged under 16 in the home. A little under 10% of respondents were pensioners living alone. The average number of adults per household was 2.2. Nearly two-thirds of people were owner-occupiers and almost all of the remainder were renting their homes. A very small number of people occupied their homes through work.
3.3 Twenty percent of respondents were in the professional or managerial social classes. At the other end of the scale, 32% were living in households in which the chief wage earner was in unskilled manual work, or in homes reliant entirely on state benefits. Over half of the people in the sample (53%) were in paid work. Other major groupings were those who were retired (25%), people who were long-term sick/disabled (7%) and those who were at home and not seeking work (6%).
3.4 A quarter of the people in the sample either did not know their household income or refused to state a figure. Some 7% of people interviewed said that their income was no more than 5,200 per annum; 9% of people lived in households with incomes in excess of 36,400 a year. The median figure was in the range of 15,600-20,800.
3.5 Only 12% of the people in the sample said that it was very easy to manage on their household income, while 28% thought that it was fairly easy. Many people (38%) found their income manageable but 17% felt that it was very/fairly difficult for them to manage on their income.
3.6 Some 16% of those people interviewed said that their highest level of qualification was at O Grade/Standard Grade/GCSE or equivalent, while for 5% their highest was Higher Grade/A Level or equivalent. Fourteen percent had a highest qualification at GSVQ/SVQ level 1 or 2/BTEC First Diploma/City and Guilds or equivalent. Almost one person in ten had a highest qualification at HNC/HND/SVQ level 4 or 5 or equivalent while 8% had a degree and 15% had professional qualifications.
3.7 The 51 respondents in the ethnic minority booster sample were generally younger than the people in the main sample: a quarter of respondents were aged under 25 and a further third were aged under 35. Two-thirds of people in the ethnic minority sample were female and three-quarters of people lived in a household with at least one child. A quarter of people had degree-level qualifications and the same fraction said that they found it difficult to manage on their current household income.
Rating of general health
3.8 Half of the people in the sample (52%) rated their general health as being either excellent or very good, with almost a third (31%) rating it as being good. Relatively small numbers of people said that their general health was only fair (16%) or poor (8%). As shown in figure 3.1, there were significant variations by age, the amount of stress experienced by respondents in the last 12 months and by affluence of area. By allocating a point scoring system to each answer (e.g. excellent = 4 and poor = 0), we can identify some other differences. There were higher than average claimed levels of health among non-smokers, those in the AB (professional and managerial) social classes and people living in the most affluent areas. Associated with the latter finding, there was a relatively low health figure for those living in the western part of the central belt, in and around Glasgow. People living in the least affluent areas were most likely to say their health was poor or only fair, and almost 40% of people who reported that they were experiencing large amounts of stress also rated their general health as poor or fair.
Figure 3.1 : In general, would you say your health is…
Base: all = 1381
Mental health and vitality in the last four weeks
3.9 The next series of questions were about how respondents had been feeling during the past 4 weeks. For each statement, the people in the sample were asked to indicate how much of the time they had felt this way.
Table 3.1: For how much of the time during the past 4 weeks …
Base: all = 1381
| All
% | Most
% | Some
% | A little
% | None
% | Don't know
% |
…did you feel full of life? | 4 | 33 | 34 | 18 | 11 | * |
Did you have a lot of energy? | 5 | 37 | 32 | 14 | 12 | 0 |
Did you feel worn out? | 4 | 13 | 33 | 27 | 22 | * |
Did you feel tired? | 5 | 17 | 45 | 25 | 9 | 0 |
Have you felt very nervous? | 2 | 5 | 14 | 21 | 58 | * |
Have you felt so down in the dumps that nothing could cheer you up? | 1 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 68 | * |
Have you felt calm and peaceful? | 9 | 43 | 33 | 10 | 6 | * |
Have you felt downhearted and depressed? | 2 | 4 | 19 | 23 | 52 | * |
Have you been happy? | 16 | 58 | 20 | 4 | 2 | * |
(* = less than 0.5%)
3.10 Responses to this battery of questions were used to calculate mental health and vitality scores for each person. The first four of the statements in Table 3.1 comprised the vitality score and the other five statements made up the mental health score. Both scores were scaled from 0-100 and the overall mental health and vitality score was calculated using a weighted average of the two scores, with highest scores signifying best levels of vitality/mental health.
3.11 The average score across the overall sample was 67. However, there were a large number of variations across sample groups, notably by social class (highest scores among professional/managerial households), stress levels (lowest scores among those reporting themselves as most stressed), claimed level of control over mental health (high scores for those in complete control), ease of managing on income (low scores for those finding things difficult) and long standing limiting health conditions (low scores for people with these problems). There were also lesser variations by working status (those people not working scoring higher than those who were in work), smoking behaviour and the urban/non-urban split. Partly reflecting the latter finding, scores were lower in the central areas around Glasgow and Edinburgh. CHAID analysis confirmed that long-standing limiting conditions, levels of control over mental health and stress levels were the variables with the most significant differences. (See
Annex F for more details)
Table 3.2: Overall scores on the mental health and vitality questions
Base: all = 1381
(NB - row not column %)
| | Less than 50 | 50, less than 67 | 67, less than 80 | 80+ | Mean |
All | % | 18 | 30 | 32 | 20 | 67 |
AB | % | 5 | 23 | 45 | 25 | 75 |
DE | % | 30 | 33 | 22 | 14 | 58 |
Stress free | % | 8 | 9 | 30 | 52 | 83 |
Large amount of stress | % | 42 | 35 | 15 | 7 | 50 |
Heavy smokers | % | 33 | 28 | 24 | 15 | 62 |
Non-smokers | % | 15 | 28 | 35 | 22 | 69 |
Urban | % | 20 | 30 | 31 | 17 | 64 |
Non-urban | % | 15 | 29 | 32 | 24 | 70 |
Complete control over mental health | % | 6 | 21 | 29 | 42 | 79 |
Little or no control over mental health | % | 51 | 26 | 14 | 8 | 47 |
Easy to manage on income | % | 8 | 26 | 36 | 29 | 74 |
Difficult to manage on income | % | 34 | 35 | 22 | 9 | 55 |
Long standing limiting condition | % | 42 | 33 | 17 | 7 | 50 |
No long standing condition | % | 8 | 28 | 37 | 26 | 73 |
Long-standing limiting conditions
3.12 The standard pair of Census questions was asked with regard to having long-standing illness, disability and infirmity. These included a check to discriminate between those who were limited in any way in terms of their activities. Almost four-in-ten of those interviewed reported having a long-standing problem and most of this group (representing 28% of the total sample) said that their activities were limited by their condition.
3.13 There were, again, variations across the sample groups, most markedly by age - see Table 3.3. There were also high levels of limiting conditions for those on low and hard-to-manage incomes, those with a history of mental health problems (45%), smokers and respondents living in the least affluent areas.
Table 3.3: Do you have any long-standing illness, disability or infirmity? By long-standing, I mean anything that has troubled you over a period of time, or that is likely to affect you over a period of time. IF YES: Does this illness, disability or infirmity limit your activities in any way?
Base: all = 1381
| All
% | 18-24
% | 25-34
% | 35-44
% | 45-54
% | 55-64
% | 65-74
% | 75+
% |
Yes | 39 | 18 | 27 | 31 | 34 | 58 | 62 | 59 |
- limited | 28 | 9 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 40 | 48 |
- not limited | 11 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 11 |
No | 61 | 82 | 73 | 69 | 66 | 42 | 38 | 41 |
Stress over the last year
3.14 Just over half of the people in the sample (53%) reported that they had suffered from either a moderate or a large amount of stress in the past year - most of the remainder said that they had experienced only a small amount of stress in this period. Only 9% claimed to be completely stress-free in the last 12 months. There were, again, significant variations by main demographic groups, notably age and sex (as shown in Figure 3.2). For both men and women, the middle-aged group reported the highest levels of stress and the lowest scores on this variable were recorded for respondents aged 55 or older.
Figure 3.2: Which of these statements best describes the amount of stress or pressure you have experienced in the past year?
Base: all = 1381
3.15 Other groups reporting relatively high levels of stress included those with a long term limiting condition (33% of these respondents reported a large amount of stress), people having difficulties managing on their income (31%), respondents with low health/vitality scores (47%) and people with personal experience of a mental health problem (39%).
Visits to the GP/family doctor
3.16 A substantial majority of people (70%) said they had seen their GP/family doctor about their own health in the last 6 months, including a third who had been to the surgery in the last month. The lightest users of GPs were young and middle aged men and, to a lesser extent, middle aged women.
Table 3.4: When did you last see your family doctor/GP about your own health?
Base: all = 1381
| All
% | Male
16-34
% | Male
35-54
% | Male
55+
% | Female
16-34
% | Female
35-54
% | Female
55+
% |
In the last week | 11 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 17 |
In the last month | 25 | 22 | 15 | 33 | 28 | 22 | 28 |
In the last 6 months | 34 | 33 | 37 | 35 | 32 | 34 | 33 |
In the last year | 13 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 12 | 11 |
Longer ago | 16 | 24 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 10 |
Never | * | 0 | 1 | * | 1 | 0 | * |
3.17 Those people with long-standing limiting conditions were, as might be expected, heavy users of GP facilities (61% had seen a doctor in the last month) as were people who scored poorly on the health/vitality measures (67%), those reporting large amounts of stress (50%) and people with personal experience of a mental health problem (51%).
Smoking
3.18 Nearly a third of those people interviewed said that they (at least occasionally) smoked cigarettes nowadays. The mean daily consumption figure among smokers was 15. Table 3.5 shows smoking prevalence and consumption by a number of different age groups - the highest levels of consumption were recorded for those aged 18-44.
Table 3.5: Do you smoke cigarettes nowadays? IF YES: On an average day, how many cigarettes do you smoke?
Base: all = 1381
| All
% | 18-24
% | 25-34
% | 35-44
% | 45-54
% | 55-64
% | 65-74
% | 75+
% |
Yes, daily | 29 | 36 | 34 | 33 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 14 |
Yes, occasionally | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | * |
Mean number smoked | 15 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 15 |
No | 69 | 62 | 59 | 64 | 75 | 73 | 74 | 85 |
3.19 Other sample groups with a relatively high level of smoking prevalence included those in the DE social class (47%), respondents in the least affluent areas (48%), the lowest health/vitality grouping (43%) and to a lesser extent those with a history of mental health problems (34%). The ethnic minority sample showed a notably low level of smoking (11%).
Alcohol
3.20 Just over two-thirds of people interviewed stated that they drank alcohol nowadays and the weekly consumption figure in terms of units was 11. Table 3.6 shows the level of drinking across a variety of sex/age groups. In overall terms, men were found to drink more than women and older people less than younger people.
Table 3.6: Do you drink alcohol nowadays? IF YES: In a typical seven day week, how many units of alcohol would you drink, including weekends, anything you drink at home, in pubs, clubs or at parties?
Base: all = 1381
| All
% | Men
16-34
% | Men
35-54
% | Men
55+
% | Women
16-34
% | Women 35-54
% | Women 55+
% |
Yes | 69 | 79 | 85 | 67 | 73 | 70 | 45 |
Mean units | 11 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
No | 31 | 21 | 15 | 33 | 27 | 30 | 55 |
Caring responsibilities
3.21 Only a small minority of people in the sample (12%) said that they looked after a sick, disabled, elderly or frail person who lived either with them or in another household. The lowest levels of such responsibility were recorded for people under 35, but figures were otherwise quite consistent by age. Women aged 35-54 were the group most likely to have such responsibilities (23%). Sixteen percent of those people who reported a moderate or large amount of stress in their lives were carers (8% of carers reported little or no stress).
Living in the area and social capital issues
3.22 Well over half of the people in the sample (61%) had been living at their current address for at least ten years - only 12% had moved inside the last two years. The more recent movers were younger than average, perhaps because of factors associated with young adulthood itself: beginning work or changing jobs, for example, or starting/extending a family.
3.23 In order to explore the connectedness of neighbourhoods, a series of questions were asked in relation to social capital issues. The section began with a check on the extent to which respondents knew people in their neighbourhood, i.e. within 15 minutes walk of their home. Five percent of the sample said that they did not know any other people in the area, and nearly half of all respondents (45%) knew few, if any, other people. The rest of the people in the sample split quite evenly between those who knew many or most of their neighbours.
3.24 Table 3.7 shows a higher level of knowledge of neighbours for those people who said they were stress-free, those who had high vitality scores and for respondents who claimed to have complete control over the factors that can affect mental health.
Table 3.7: Would you say that you know… in your neighbourhood?
Base: all = 1381
| All
% | Stress free
% | Large amount of stress
% | Low mental health/
Vitality score
% | High mental health/
Vitality score
% | Complete control over mental health
% | Little or no control over mental health
% |
Most of the people | 28 | 43 | 23 | 29 | 35 | 35 | 15 |
Many | 22 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
A few | 45 | 30 | 51 | 44 | 42 | 40 | 56 |
Do not know people | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
3.25 Those respondents aged 25-34 were generally less likely to know many people in their neighbourhood, perhaps because they also tended to be quite recent movers.
3.26 Over two-thirds of the people in the sample (70%) said that their neighbourhood was the sort of place where neighbours look out for each other. However, a quarter of respondents held the opposite view and the balance (notably those on the highest incomes and also in the rented sector) were unsure one way or the other. People with low vitality scores (34%) and those suffering from large amounts of stress (31%) were among the groups who reported that their neighbourhood was the kind of place where people were less likely to look out for each other.
3.27 Almost a quarter of the people in the sample (22%) said that they had been involved in a local organisation in some capacity on a voluntary basis over the last three years (i.e. carried out work for which they had not been paid, except for expenses). High participation was recorded for those aged 55-64 (32%), people in rural areas including the Highlands and Islands (30%) and respondents in the AB social class (37%).
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