ANNEX G: ADDITIONAL MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS UNDERTAKEN
1) Analysis of the relationship between the number of positive and negative influences on mental wellbeing mentioned by respondents, and a) their GHQ12 scores and b) their level of mental wellbeing (as measured through WEMWEBS)
G.1 Previous research has shown that the absence of positive influences on mental wellbeing, rather than the presence of negative influences, is crucial in predicting suicidal behaviour 40. Accordingly, analysis was undertaken to explore whether there was a relationship between the number of positive and negative influences mentioned by respondents, and their GHQ12 and WEMEBS scores.
G.2 For the purpose of the analysis three new variables were created: one representing the total positive number of influences mentioned by each respondent ( QB1), another representing the total number of negative influences mentioned ( QB2), and a third representing a composite net influences variable which combined the relative presence of negative and positive influences. Zero-order correlational analysis was then undertaken to explore i) the relationship between the number of positive influences that respondents mention and their GHQ12 and WEMWBS scores and ii) the relationship between the number of negative influences that respondents mention and their GHQ12 and WEMWBS scores. In addition, regression analysis was used to explore simultaneously the relationship between the number of positive and negative mentions and GHQ12 and WEMWBS scores - thus providing a measure of the relative importance of the reporting of positive and negative influences. The analysis was repeated for those who have experience of mental health problems (both proxy and personal) and those who do not.
G3 On the whole, the analysis revealed that neither the number nor the type of positive and negative influences mentioned by respondents were found to be correlated with their GHQ12 and WEMWBS scores.
2) Segmentation analysis of attitudes to mental health problems
G.4 The purpose of this analysis was to identify whether the nine attitudinal statements could be grouped into a smaller number of themes or 'factors' depending on the responses they elicit and, if so, to what extent respondents fell into distinct, like-minded groupings in relation to these factors.
G.5 The analysis involved a two-stage process. Firstly, factor analysis was used to identify related statements. As in 2006, this analysis produced a four factor solution, although the constituent statements of the four factors differed slightly this time around (table G.1 below).
Table G.1: Factor analysis: 4 factor solution
Factor | Constituent attitudinal statements |
|---|
1 | - People with mental health problems are often dangerous
- The public should be better protected from people with mental health problems
- People with mental health problems are largely to blame for their own condition
- I would find it hard to talk to someone with mental health problems
|
2 | - Anyone can suffer from mental health problems
- People with mental health problems should have the same rights as anyone else
|
3 | - If I were suffering from a mental health problem, I wouldn't want people knowing about it
|
4 | - The majority of people with mental health problems recover
- People are generally caring and sympathetic to people with mental health problems
|
G.6 Cluster analysis was undertaken to identify to what extent respondents fell into like-minded groups on the basis of their attitudes in relation to each factor. A range of possible cluster solutions were identified, with the strongest of these comprising four clusters. As in 2006, none of the four clusters was particularly distinct, either in attitudinal or socio-demographic terms. However, the analysis did yield some interesting findings, several of which reinforced bivariate analyses presented in chapter 7. Most notably it showed that:
- attitudes to mental health problems tend to be characterised by ambivalence, with individuals holding both positive and negative views.
- men who have no qualifications and live in the most deprived areas of the country tend to hold the most negative attitudes to mental health problems
- attitudes also tend to be more negative than average among people past retirement age
- people with degree- or professional-level qualifications tend to hold the most liberal attitudes to mental health problems, although they are also the group most likely to agree that 'If I were suffering from a mental health problem, I wouldn't want people knowing about it.