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CHAPTER EIGHT CAN LITERACY AND NUMERACY ABILITIES INFLUENCE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?
In the final part of our analysis of BCS70 survey data we look at the relationship between literacy and numeracy skills and individuals' family situation, and physical and mental well-being.
Family situation at 34
At the age of 34 around 1 in 6 men with SCQF Level 2 or 3 literacy or Level 2 numeracy still lived with their parent(s) compared with around 1 in 10 men with SCQF Level 5 or higher literacy and 1 in 13 men with SCQF Level 5 or higher numeracy. However, only 1 in 25 women (4%) still lived with a parent at this age.
Just over half of our 34-year-olds lived with a partner and child(ren), while 1% of men and 13% of women were living as single parents. Women with numeracy at or below SCQF Level 3 were the most likely to be bringing up children on their own and to have been teenage mothers.
Nearly half of all men did not have any children at the age of 34, compared with around 1 in 3 women.
Health and well-being
Physical health
Low levels of literacy and numeracy were associated with relatively poor physical health and mental well-being. For example, compared to women with SCQF Level 5 or higher skills, those with SCQF Level 2 or 3 literacy or SCQF Level 2 numeracy were most likely to have had a longstanding illness (44% to 25% literacy, 42% to 18% numeracy).
Health-related practices
Women with literacy or numeracy at or below SCQF Level 3 were more than twice as likely as those with Level 5 or higher skills to smoke (47% to 22% literacy, 42% SCQF Level 2, 34% SCQF Level 3, 15% Level 5 numeracy). There were similar but less pronounced differences between men. However, men with SCQF Level 2 or 3 literacy were the most likely to be heavy drinkers, with 36% consuming more than 40 units of alcohol in a week, compared to 17% of those with SCQF Level 5 or higher literacy.
Men with poor skills, particularly SCQF Access Level 2 or 3 literacy, were more likely to consume more units of alcohol when they drank
Women with SCQF Access Level 2 or 3 literacy or SCQF Access Level 2 numeracy were most likely to report having a long standing illness and that their general health limited their everyday activities
Psychological well-being
More than 1 in 4 men and women with SCQF Level 2 or 3 literacy or Level 2 numeracy had experienced symptoms of depression - around twice the number of those with SCQF Level 5 or higher skills. Cohort members with poor literacy and numeracy skills were also far more likely to feel that they 'never got what they wanted from life' than those with SCQF Level 5 or higher skills.
Conclusions
Women with poor literacy and numeracy skills were the most likely to become mothers while still in their teens. Many of their male counterparts were childless and still living with their own parents at 34.
Poor physical and mental well-being, together with unhealthy habits such as smoking and heavy drinking, were also associated with low levels of literacy and numeracy.
New Light on Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland
SCQF Access Level skills are associated with lack of qualifications, poor labour market experience and prospects, poor material and financial circumstances, poorer health practices and prospects, and a lack of social and political participation.
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