Scottish Health Survey 2012 - volume 1: main report

1. General Health, Mental Wellbeing & Caring

Judith Mabelis

Summary

• In 2012, around three-quarters (74%) of adults described their health as either 'good' or 'very good', while 9% described it as 'bad' or 'very bad'. The proportion of adults rating their health as good or very good declined with age.
• There has been little change, since 2008, in how men describe their health in general. There has, however, been a significant decline in the proportion of women describing their health as good or very good since 2009 (from 77% to 73% in 2012).
• In 2012, the mean score for adults on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) was 49.9. Men had a significantly higher score than women (50.4 and 49.4 respectively). Mean scores have not changed significantly since 2008 (50.0 in 2008).
• WEMWBS scores were highest for those aged 16-24 (50.7) and those aged 65-74 (51.1), whilst those aged 45-54 (49.0) and 75 and over (49.2) had the lowest average scores.
• In 2012, one in six (15%) adults exhibited signs of a possible psychiatric disorder (a GHQ12 score of 4 or more). Women were significantly more likely than men to have a score of 4 or more (17% and 13% respectively).
• GHQ12 scores have remained fairly stable since 1995 with only minor fluctuations over the years.
• Mean life satisfaction scores were identical for men and women in 2012 (7.7).
• Adult life satisfaction levels have not changed significantly since 2008 (7.6).
• Life satisfaction varied with age, with the highest scores found among those aged 16-24 (7.8) and those aged 65-74 (8.1), and the lowest among those aged 45-54 (7.4).
• In 2012, around one in five adults (18%) reported that they provide regular care to others. Women were more likely than men to provide care for others (20% and 17% respectively).
• Caring prevalence increased in line with age up until age 55-64 (9% of those aged 16-24 provided regular care for someone compared with 31% of those aged 55-64).
• Between 2011 and 2012 there was a significant increase in the proportion of adults providing regular care (from 11% to 17% among men and from 14% to 20% among women). This increase may, however, in part be due to a change in the wording of this question between these years.
• In 2012, 5% of children aged 4 to 15 provided regular care for someone else, with no significant difference in prevalence among boys and girls. Older children (aged 12 to 15) were most likely to provide care (10% compared with 2% of those aged 4 to 11).

1.1 Introduction

One of the Scottish Government's national outcomes is the overall strategic objective for health: We live longer, healthier lives^[11]. This is supported by a number of national indicators. The data from the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) is used to monitor a number of these national indicators, including two which relate specifically to the topics covered in this chapter: 'improve self-assessed general health'^[12] and 'improve mental wellbeing.'^[13]

Mental health and wellbeing has been, and remains, a key focus of government policy. The Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012-2015,^[14] published in August 2012, sets out the Scottish Government's key commitments in relation to improving the nation's mental health and wellbeing and for ensuring improved services and outcomes for individuals and communities. It adopts three Quality Ambitions for Scotland: that health and care is person-centred, safe and effective. There is also a strong focus, throughout the strategy, on actions that individuals and communities can take to maintain and improve their own health.

The strategy supports the Scottish Government's overall purpose and builds upon the work of a number of other key policy documents. Delivering for Mental Health^[15] was published in 2006, and contained a series of targets relating to the care and treatment of people with mental ill-health. Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland^[16] was published in 2009, and was aimed at promoting good mental wellbeing, reducing the prevalence of common mental health problems, suicide and self-harm, and improving the quality of life of those experiencing mental health problems and mental illnesses.

A commitment to monitoring the nation's mental health was established via the Scottish Government's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing,^[17] and, in 2004, NHS Health Scotland was commissioned by the Scottish Government to establish a core set of national, sustainable indicators for mental health. These were published in 2007, with the aim of enabling national monitoring of adult mental health and associated contextual factors^[18]. Data from the SHeS was used to inform 28 of these indicators, and this chapter reports on indicators relating to mental wellbeing, life satisfaction and common mental health problems. The most recent of the NHS Health Scotland reports on the indicators, Scotland's Mental Health: Adults 2012^[19] provides an updated picture of adult mental health in Scotland, monitoring change over time as well as by key equality measures.

This chapter also reports on the prevalence of unpaid carers in the general population in Scotland. Carers are defined as those who look after or give any regular help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of either a long-term physical, mental ill-health or disability, or problems related to old age. Caring which is done as part of any paid employment is not asked about on SHeS. Concerns about the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers have been addressed in a number of Scottish Government policy documents. The most recent is Caring Together: The Carers Strategy for Scotland 2010-15,^[20] published in July 2010. Building on the work of an earlier publication, The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland,^[21] the strategy sets out actions to support carers and ensure their health and wellbeing.

Through the implementation of Caring Together, the health and wellbeing of carers is being addressed nationally through a range of measures, such as the Scottish Government's commitment to the voluntary sector Short Breaks Fund^[22], and the inclusion of an indicator on carers in the core part of the GP contract^[23]. Moreover, the Reshaping Care for Older People Change Fund^[24] is supporting the carers of older people in many different ways.

Caring Together highlights the need for key data on the characteristics of Scotland's carers in order to plan for and deliver support to them. One of the strategy's action points is for the Scottish Government to make information on carers from surveys such as the Scottish Household Survey and the Scottish Health Survey available to the research community, care providers and the public through its publications and website.

Data on carers has been collected by the SHeS since 2008, with other sources of such data including the Census and the Scottish Household Survey. Data from these sources have highlighted that carers themselves report poor health and suffer from the effects of illness and disability^[25]. Previous analysis of SHeS data showed that carers aged 16 and over had slightly lower mental wellbeing than those without caring responsibilities^[26].

Recognising that children and young people may also be in a caring role and may have particular needs, the Scottish Government, along with COSLA, published a separate strategy to support them: Getting it Right for Young Carers^[27]. Young carers have been defined within the Strategy as a child or young person aged under 18 who has a significant role in looking after someone else who is experiencing illness or disability. Questions to ascertain the prevalence of young carers were introduced to SHeS in 2012, and this chapter includes data on young carers aged 4 to 15.

In summary, this chapter presents updated trends for self-assessed general health and mental health and wellbeing among adults, both key indicators of the mental health of the population. Additionally, the chapter includes data on the prevalence of carers in the general population in Scotland, a group who are concerned with the health and wellbeing of others, but at the same time are at risk of poor health and wellbeing themselves^[28].

1.2 Self-Assessed General Health

1.2.1 Introduction

In this section data on self-assessed general health for adults aged 16 and over are reported. Within the survey, all participants are asked to rate their general health as either 'very good', 'good', 'fair', 'bad', or 'very bad'. Self-assessed health is a useful measure of how individuals regard their own overall health status. Assessments have been shown to be strongly related to the presence of chronic and acute disease, as well as being a good predictor of hospital admission and mortality^[29,30].,

Data from this question are used to monitor the national indicator 'improve self-assessed health' and one of the Scottish Government's adult mental health indicators: 'percentage of adults who perceive their health in general to be good or very good^[12,18]. ^12,18

1.2.2 Trends in self-assessed general health since 2008

Self-assessed general health remained largely unchanged for adults between 2008 and 2012 (Table 1.1). Over this period the proportion of adults describing their health as either good or very good fluctuated between 74% and 77%. Similarly, there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults reporting their health as bad or very bad. In 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, 7% of adults described their health negatively: in 2012 9% did.

Male and female trends in self-assessed general health were largely similar to that discussed above for all adults. The only significant change has been a small decline (between 2009 and 2012) in the proportion of women describing their general health positively (from 77% to 73%). This decline is explained by a drop in the proportion describing their health in general as very good (36% in 2009 and 32% in 2012). Table 1.1

1.2.3 Self-assessed general health, 2012, by age and sex

In 2012, around three-quarters (74%) of adults described their health as either good or very good. While men appeared slightly more likely than women to rate their health positively (75% compared with 73%) this difference was not significant and was not true of all age groups.

In line with previous years, in 2012, the proportion of adults reporting good or very good general health declined with age. This was coupled with an increase, by age, in the proportion describing their health negatively. Nine in ten (89%) 16-24 year olds rated their health as good or very good compared with five in ten (52%) of those in the oldest age group (aged 75 and over). As might be expected, the opposite was true for prevalence of self-assessed bad health; just 1% of the youngest age group (16-24) classed their health as bad or very bad compared with 17% of those aged 75 and over. These age-related patterns were observed for both men and women. Table 1.2

1.3 Wellbeing

1.3.1 Introduction

Three indicators of wellbeing are included in the survey and described in this section: the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)^[31]; the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12)^[32]; and life satisfaction score^[33].

WEMWBS is used to monitor the national indicator 'improve mental wellbeing.'^[13]13 It comprises 14 items designed to assess: positive affect (optimism, cheerfulness, relaxation); satisfying interpersonal relationships; and positive functioning (energy, clear thinking, self-acceptance. personal development, mastery and autonomy). Statements are positively worded and a five-item scale ranging from '1 - none of the time' to '5 - all of the time' is used. The lowest score possible is 14 and the highest score possible is 70. As WEMWBS was not designed to identify individuals with exceptionally high or low levels of positive mental health, cut-off points have not been developed, and it is mean scores that are presented in this chapter^[34].

GHQ12^[32]is a widely used standard measure of mental distress and psychological ill-health consisting of 12 questions on concentration abilities, sleeping patterns, self-esteem, stress, despair, depression, and confidence in the previous few weeks. Responses to each of the GHQ12 items are scored, with one point allocated each time a particular feeling or type of behaviour is reported to have been experienced 'more than usual' or 'much more than usual' over the previous few weeks. These scores are combined to create an overall score of between zero and twelve. A score of four or more (referred to as a high GHQ12 score) has been used here to indicate the presence of a possible psychiatric disorder. A score of zero on the GHQ12 questionnaire can, in contrast, be considered to be an indicator of psychological wellbeing. GHQ12 measures deviations from people's usual functioning in the previous few weeks and therefore cannot be used to detect chronic conditions.

Life satisfaction is measured by asking participants to rate, on a scale of 0 to 10, how satisfied they are with their life in general. On the scale, 0 represented 'extremely dissatisfied' and 10 'extremely satisfied' (the intervening scale points were numbered but not labelled). This measure has been used in numerous international surveys. There are no pre-defined cut-off points within the scale to distinguish between different levels of satisfaction. However, a summary measure was used in this analysis which identified three groups of interest based on the overall distribution of scores in the whole population: people with the highest levels of satisfaction (scores of 9 or 10), people with an average satisfaction level (score 8), and those with below average scores (0-7).

1.3.2 Trends in WEMWBS mean scores since 2008

There has been no significant change in the mean WEMWBS score for adults in Scotland since the scale was first included in the survey in 2008 (50.0 in 2008 and 49.9 in 2012). In the intervening years scores fluctuated between 49.7 and 49.9. The lack of change in average wellbeing scores over this period was true for both men and women. Table 1.3

1.3.3 WEMWBS mean scores, 2012, by age and sex

In 2012, the mean WEMWBS score for adults in Scotland was 49.9. In line with results from previous years, the average scores for men were significantly higher than for women (50.4 and 49.4 respectively).

The association between mean WEMWBS scores and age was complex. Younger people (aged 16-24) and those aged 65-74 had the highest mean WEMWBS scores (50.7 and 51.1 respectively). Conversely, mean scores were lowest among 45-54 year olds (49.0) and those aged 75 and over (49.2). This pattern of low self-reported wellbeing among the middle aged and oldest age groups is consistent with findings from earlier years of the survey^[35]. For men, the pattern by age was similar to that seen for all adults. The exception for women was that the mean score for the youngest age group (16-24 year olds) was one of the lowest observed (48.9). Table 1.4

1.3.4 Trends in GHQ12 scores since 1995

Prevalence scores for GHQ12 are shown in Table 1.5 for adults aged 16 to 64 from 1995 onwards and for all adults aged 16 and over since 2003. The proportion of 16 to 64 year olds with a GHQ12 score of 4 or more (indicating the presence of a possible psychiatric disorder) has remained fairly constant since 1995 (15%-16%). This was true for both men and women, with the proportion exhibiting signs of a possible psychiatric disorder ranging between 12% and 14% for men since 1995 and between 17% and 19% for women since then.

A score of zero on the GHQ12 is indicative of psychological wellbeing with no symptoms of medical distress evident. Between 1995 and 2003 the proportion of 16 to 64 year olds scoring zero increased significantly from 57% to 64%. This increase was not sustained in 2008, when 60% did not indicate any symptoms of medical distress. Since then, there has been some minor fluctuations, but no significant changes, in the proportion indicating psychological wellbeing. Again, this trend was evident among both men and women.

Since 2003 there has been no significant change in GHQ12 scores for all adults (aged 16 or above). In both 2003 and 2012, 15% had a GHQ12 score of 4 or more. The proportion of men and women indicating some symptoms of medical distress has also remained the same since 2003 (13% in 2003 and 2012 for men and 17% for women in both years). Table 1.5

1.3.5 GHQ12 scores, 2012, by age and sex

In 2012, 15% of adults (aged 16 and above) exhibited signs of a possible psychiatric disorder (GHQ12 score of 4 or more) (Table 1.6). As seen in previous years, women were significantly more likely to than men to have a score of four or more (17% compared with 13%). Conversely, a higher proportion of men than women had a score of zero for GHQ12 (66% and 59% respectively).

It is difficult to discern a clear pattern to GHQ12 scores across age groups, as illustrated in Figure 1A. Prevalence of high GHQ12 scores was greatest for those aged 25-34 (20%) and lowest for those aged 65-74 (11%). The pattern by age was slightly different for men and women. Among women, the proportion with a high score was very similar for those aged under 65 (between 18% and 19%), but was lower for those aged 65 and above (14%). Whereas for men, those aged 25-34 were most likely to have a score of four or more (21%), while the youngest (aged 16-24) and oldest age groups (aged 65 and over) were least likely (7% and 8%-10% respectively). Figure 1A, Table 1.6

Figure 1A GHQ12 scores of 4 or more, 2012, by age and sex

1.3.6 Trends in life satisfaction since 2008

There has been no significant change in mean life satisfaction scores for all adults since the question was first introduced in 2008. Since then, the average score has ranged from 7.5 (in 2010) to 7.7 (in 2012). The separate trends for men and women followed a similar pattern to the all adult trend.

In line with the trend in mean scores, there have been some minor fluctuations in the proportions of adults scoring above average (a score of 9 or 10), average (a score of 8) or below average (a score of 0-7) since 2008 but none have been significant. Between 2008 and 2012, the proportion of adults scoring their life satisfaction as 9 or 10 (where 10 is classified as extremely satisfied) fluctuated between 30% and 32% (32% in 2012). Thirty-seven percent had below average life-satisfaction (score of 0-7) in 2012; the equivalent figure in previous years ranged between 38% and 40%). The proportion of adults with below average scores have not changed significantly since 2008 and the same was true for men. There has, however, been a significant drop in the proportion of women with a life satisfaction score of 0-7 from 41% in 2008 to 36% in 2012. Table 1.7

1.3.7 Life satisfaction, 2012, by age and sex

Men and women had identical mean life satisfaction scores in 2012 (7.7) and the proportions with above average (33% of men and 32% of women), average (30% of men and 31% of women) and below average (37% of men and 36% of women) scores were also similar.

Life satisfaction did, however, vary significantly by age. While adults aged 16-24 had a mean life satisfaction score of 7.8. The average score dipped to 7.4 for adults aged 45-54. However, as seen with the WEMWBS wellbeing score, life satisfaction levels then increased among older people (peaking at 8.1 among those aged 65-74), and dropping thereafter for those aged 75 and over (7.6). This is illustrated in Figure 1B, which also shows that the age group most likely to have above average scores (9 or 10) were those aged 65-74 (45%), while the group most likely to score below average (0-7) were those aged 45-54 (42%). The age-related pattern to life satisfaction was broadly similar for men and women. Figure 1B, Table 1.8

Figure 1B Life satisfaction scores, 2012, by age and sex

1.4 Caring Prevalence

1.4.1 Introduction

In the survey, caring prevalence is measured by asking participants if they look after, or give any regular help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of either a long-term physical condition, mental ill-health or disability; or problems related to old age. This question has been asked of adults aged 16 and over since 2008. Children aged 4 to 15 were asked about their caring responsibilities for the first time in 2012.

1.4.2 Trends in the prevalence of caring since 2008

Between 2008 and 2012 there was an increase in the proportion of adults (aged 16 and over) that reported regularly caring for someone (Table 1.9). In 2008, around one in ten (11%) reported doing so and by 2012 this had increased to nearly two in ten (18%). The biggest increase (five percentage points) occurred between 2011 and 2012 when prevalence rose from 13% to 18%. It is, however, important to note that the wording for this question changed between 2011 and 2012^[36]. Consequently, any increase in caring prevalence between these years may be partly due to this change in wording. It will be necessary to look at future data in the series to see if this upward trend continues.

Trends in caring prevalence were similar for men and women, with both undergoing a significant increase between 2011 and 2012 (from 11% to 17% for men and from 14% to 20% for women), although, as mentioned above, this may be partly related to a change in question wording. Prior to 2012 prevalence among women remained steady at 14%, while for men it increased slightly between 2008 and 2011 (from 9% to 11%). Table 1.9

1.4.3 Caring prevalence, 2012, by age and sex

In 2012, for the first time, the questions on caring prevalence were extended to children. As patterns of care differ for adults and children, results for both are discussed separately here.

Caring prevalence among adults (aged 16 and above)

One in six adults reported providing regular care in 2012, with women significantly more likely than men to do so (20% compared with 17%). As demonstrated in Figure 1C, for adults, there was also a clear association between caring and age. The proportion of men and women caring regularly steadily increased with age, peaking among those aged 55-64 and then dropping thereafter. One in ten (9%) 16-24 year olds provided regular care, compared with three in ten (31%) of those aged 55-64 and one in ten (9%) of those in the oldest age group (aged 75 and over). The gender difference in care provision, highlighted above, was most apparent among 35 to 64 year olds with little difference in prevalence across other age groups.

Figure 1C Prevalence of providing regular care, 2012, by age and sex

Caring prevalence among children (aged 4 to 15)

In 2012, the first year these data were collected on SHeS, 5% of children aged 4 to 15 provided regular care for someone else. In contrast to adult caring rates, there were no significant differences between the prevalence of caring among boys and girls (both 5%).

The proportion of boys and girls with caring responsibilities did however vary significantly by age. Older children (aged 12-15), were five times as likely as younger children (aged 4-11) to provide regular care for someone else (10% compared with 2%). Figure 1C, Table 1.10

Table list

Table 1.1 Self-assessed general health, 2008 to 2012

Table 1.2 Self-assessed general health, 2012, by age and sex

Table 1.3 WEMWBS mean scores, 2008 to 2012

Table 1.4 WEMWBS mean scores, 2012, by age and sex

Table 1.5 GHQ12 scores, 1995 to 2012

Table 1.6 GHQ12 scores, 2012, by age and sex

Table 1.7 Life satisfaction mean scores, 2008 to 2012

Table 1.8 Life satisfaction mean scores, 2012, by age and sex

Table 1.9 Caring prevalence, 2008 to 2012

Table 1.10 Caring prevalence, 2012, by age and sex

Table 1.1 Self-assessed general health, 2008 to 2012

Aged 16 and over	2008 to 2012
Self-assessed general health	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
	%	%	%	%	%
Men
Very good	37	37	35	37	36
Good	39	40	41	41	39
Fair	16	16	17	16	17
Bad	6	6	5	5	6
Very Bad	2	1	2	2	2
Very good/good	76	77	76	77	75
Bad/very bad	7	7	7	7	8
Women
Very good	35	36	35	36	32
Good	40	41	39	39	41
Fair	19	17	18	18	18
Bad	5	6	6	6	7
Very Bad	2	1	2	2	2
Very good/good	75	77	74	74	73
Bad/very bad	7	7	8	8	9
All adults
Very good	36	36	35	36	34
Good	39	40	40	40	40
Fair	17	16	18	17	17
Bad	5	6	6	6	7
Very Bad	2	1	2	2	2
Very good/good	75	77	75	76	74
Bad/very bad	7	7	7	7	9
Bases (weighted):
Men	3087	3598	3464	3608	2309
Women	3376	3926	3775	3932	2504
All adults	6463	7524	7239	7541	4813
Bases (unweighted):
Men	2840	3285	3112	3279	2127
Women	3622	4241	4128	4262	2686
All adults	6462	7526	7240	7541	4813

Table 1.2 Self-assessed general health, 2012, by age and sex

Aged 16 and over	2012
Self-assessed general health	Age							Total
	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Men
Very good	59	38	43	32	28	19	17	36
Good	32	47	39	41	38	39	34	39
Fair	7	12	12	15	25	29	31	17
Bad	2	1	4	9	6	10	15	6
Very Bad	-	2	1	3	4	3	4	2
Very good/good	91	85	83	73	66	58	50	75
Bad/very bad	2	3	6	11	10	13	19	8
Women
Very good	36	44	37	35	28	21	18	32
Good	51	42	41	38	39	41	35	41
Fair	12	12	12	17	21	26	31	18
Bad	1	1	7	8	10	11	14	7
Very Bad	-	0	3	2	1	2	3	2
Very good/good	87	86	78	73	67	62	53	73
Bad/very bad	1	2	10	11	12	13	16	9
All Adults
Very good	48	41	40	33	28	20	17	34
Good	41	44	40	40	38	40	35	40
Fair	9	12	12	16	23	27	31	17
Bad	1	1	6	9	8	11	14	7
Very Bad	-	1	2	2	2	2	3	2
Very good/good	89	85	80	73	66	60	52	74
Bad/very bad	1	3	8	11	11	13	17	9
Bases (weighted):
Men	339	383	380	420	362	251	173	2309
Women	326	376	414	456	383	285	263	2504
All adults	665	760	795	876	745	536	435	4813
Bases (unweighted):
Men	170	228	346	409	364	385	225	2127
Women	228	329	474	500	443	386	326	2686
All adults	398	557	820	909	807	771	551	4813

Table 1.3 WEMWBS mean scores, 2008 to 2012

Aged 16 and over	2008 to 2012
WEMWBS scoresa	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Men
Mean	50.2	49.9	50.2	50.2	50.4
SE of the mean	0.20	0.16	0.19	0.19	0.24
Standard deviation	8.55	8.02	8.37	8.35	8.34
Women
Mean	49.7	49.7	49.6	49.7	49.4
SE of the mean	0.16	0.16	0.17	0.17	0.22
Standard deviation	8.48	8.51	8.67	8.37	8.63
All Adults
Mean	50.0	49.7	49.9	49.9	49.9
SE of the mean	0.14	0.12	0.14	0.14	0.18
Standard deviation	8.52	8.28	8.54	8.36	8.50
Bases (weighted):
Men	2785	3282	3171	3191	2063
Women	3026	3586	3478	3540	2256
All adults	5812	6868	6649	6731	4319
Bases (unweighted):
Men	2539	2994	2842	2900	1909
Women	3248	3886	3805	3845	2431
All adults	5787	6880	6647	6745	4340
a WEMWBS scores range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate greater wellbeing. Mean WEMWBS score is part of the national mental health indicator set for adults.

Table 1.4 WEMWBS mean scores, 2012, by age and sex

Aged 16 and over	2012
WEMWBS scoresa	Age							Total
	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+
Men
Mean	52.5	49.2	50.1	49.2	50.5	51.8	50.1	50.4
SE of the mean	0.64	0.65	0.56	0.47	0.50	0.53	0.73	0.24
Standard deviation	6.89	8.34	8.79	8.34	8.21	8.64	8.72	8.34
Women
Mean	48.9	50.0	49.1	48.8	50.1	50.4	48.7	49.4
SE of the mean	0.70	0.52	0.54	0.49	0.51	0.56	0.50	0.22
Standard deviation	8.25	8.18	9.36	8.97	8.90	8.25	7.59	8.63
All Adults
Mean	50.7	49.6	49.6	49.0	50.3	51.1	49.2	49.9
SE of the mean	0.53	0.42	0.41	0.34	0.40	0.40	0.44	0.18
Standard deviation	7.78	8.26	9.10	8.67	8.57	8.46	8.06	8.50
Bases (weighted):
Men	293	341	345	388	332	231	133	2063
Women	272	347	382	420	359	260	216	2256
All adults	565	688	727	808	691	491	349	4319
Bases (unweighted):
Men	150	202	316	382	333	351	175	1909
Women	192	303	441	462	414	353	266	2431
All adults	342	505	757	844	747	704	441	4340
a WEMWBS scores range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate greater wellbeing. Mean WEMWBS score is part of the national mental health indicator set for adults.

Table 1.5 GHQ12 scores, 1995 to 2012

Aged 16 and over	1995 to 2012
GHQ12 scorea	1995	1998	2003	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Men
16+
0	n/a	n/a	67	64	65	65	65	66
1-3	n/a	n/a	20	23	23	22	23	22
4 or more	n/a	n/a	13	12	11	13	13	13
16-64
0	60	62	68	63	65	64	64	65
1-3	27	25	20	24	23	22	23	22
4 or more	13	13	13	13	12	14	13	14
Women
16+
0	n/a	n/a	61	58	58	57	57	59
1-3	n/a	n/a	23	25	25	25	26	24
4 or more	n/a	n/a	17	17	17	17	17	17
16-64
0	55	55	61	58	58	58	57	58
1-3	26	26	22	24	25	24	25	23
4 or more	19	19	17	18	18	18	18	18
All adults
16+
0	n/a	n/a	64	61	62	61	60	62
1-3	n/a	n/a	21	24	24	24	25	23
4 or more	n/a	n/a	15	15	14	15	15	15
16-64
0	57	59	64	60	61	61	60	62
1-3	26	26	21	24	24	23	24	22
4 or more	16	16	15	16	15	16	16	16
Bases (weighted):
Men 16+	n/a	n/a	3614	2819	3301	3177	3196	2073
Women 16+	n/a	n/a	4057	3079	3589	3498	3559	2257
All adults 16+	n/a	n/a	7672	5898	6890	6674	6755	4329
Men 16-64	3825	3900	3007	2336	2738	2621	2648	1707
Women 16-64	3924	3955	3203	2448	2868	2768	2830	1781
All adults 16-64	7749	7855	6209	4785	5606	5389	5477	3488
Bases (unweighted):
Men 16+	n/a	n/a	3380	2569	3007	2849	2904	1915
Women 16+	n/a	n/a	4285	3301	3893	3823	3867	2436
All adults 16+	n/a	n/a	7665	5870	6900	6672	6771	4351
Men 16-64	3448	3315	2618	1901	2239	2128	2183	1386
Women 16-64	4326	4173	3326	2497	3019	2902	2944	1815
All adults 16-64	7774	7488	5944	4398	5258	5030	5127	3201

Table 1.6 GHQ12 scores, 2012, by age and sex

Aged 16 and over	2012
GHQ12 scorea	Age							Total
	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Men
0	63	59	68	62	74	73	63	66
1-3	30	21	20	24	14	19	27	22
4 or more	7	21	12	14	12	8	10	13
Women
0	49	56	61	59	65	64	55	59
1-3	32	26	20	23	18	23	31	24
4 or more	19	19	19	18	18	14	14	17
All adults
0	57	57	64	60	69	68	58	62
1-3	31	23	20	24	16	21	29	23
4 or more	13	20	16	16	15	11	13	15
Bases (weighted):
Men	294	345	347	389	333	230	135	2073
Women	270	347	385	420	359	257	219	2257
All adults	565	692	732	808	692	487	354	4329
Bases (unweighted):
Men	150	205	316	383	332	350	179	1915
Women	191	303	444	463	414	349	272	2436
All adults	341	508	760	846	746	699	451	4351
a GHQ12 scores range from 0 to 12. Scores of 4 or more indicate low wellbeing / possible psychiatric disorder.

Table 1.7 Life satisfaction mean scores, 2008 to 2012

Aged 16 and over	2008 to 2012
Life satisfactiona	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
	%	%	%	%	%
Men
Above average (9-10)	32	30	30	30	33
Average (8)	30	31	31	32	30
Below average (0-7)	39	39	39	38	37
Mean score	7.6	7.6	7.5	7.6	7.7
SE of mean	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.05
Women
Above average (9-10)	30	32	30	31	32
Average (8)	30	32	30	31	31
Below average (0-7)	41	37	40	38	36
Mean score	7.5	7.6	7.5	7.6	7.7
SE of mean	0.04	0.03	0.03	0.04	0.04
All adults
Above average (9-10)	31	31	30	31	32
Average (8)	30	31	31	31	31
Below average (0-7)	40	38	40	38	37
Mean score	7.6	7.6	7.5	7.6	7.7
SE of mean	0.03	0.03	0.03	0.03	0.04
Bases (weighted):
Men	3074	3588	3458	3602	2302
Women	3368	3913	3771	3923	2502
All adults	6442	7502	7229	7525	4804
Bases (unweighted):
Men	2825	3278	3105	3270	2121
Women	3613	4226	4122	4250	2683
All adults	6438	7504	7227	7520	4804
a Life satisfaction was assessed using a 0-10 scale where 0 was 'extremely dissatisfied' and 10 'extremely satisfied'.

Table 1.8 Life satisfaction mean scores, 2012, by age and sex

Aged 16 and over	2012
Life satisfactiona	Age							Total
	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Men
Above average (9-10)	37	31	30	25	32	47	32	33
Average (8)	30	27	31	33	32	28	31	30
Below average (0-7)	33	43	40	42	36	26	37	37
Mean score	7.9	7.6	7.6	7.4	7.6	8.2	7.6	7.7
SE of mean	0.15	0.13	0.11	0.10	0.12	0.10	0.15	0.05
Women
Above average (9-10)	27	36	33	28	31	44	29	32
Average (8)	37	28	31	31	32	26	34	31
Below average (0-7)	36	36	37	41	37	30	37	36
Mean score	7.8	7.8	7.6	7.5	7.5	8.0	7.6	7.7
SE of mean	0.12	0.09	0.10	0.11	0.11	0.11	0.11	0.04
All adults
Above average (9-10)	32	33	31	27	32	45	30	32
Average (8)	34	28	31	32	32	27	33	31
Below average (0-7)	34	39	38	42	36	28	37	37
Mean score	7.8	7.7	7.6	7.4	7.6	8.1	7.6	7.7
SE of mean	0.11	0.09	0.08	0.08	0.09	0.08	0.10	0.04
Bases (weighted):
Men	338	381	380	419	362	249	172	2302
Women	326	375	414	455	382	287	262	2502
All adults	664	755	795	874	744	537	434	4804
Bases (unweighted):
Men	169	227	346	408	364	383	224	2121
Women	228	328	474	499	441	388	325	2683
All adults	397	555	820	907	805	771	549	4804
a Life satisfaction was assessed using a 0-10 scale where 0 was 'extremely dissatisfied' and 10 'extremely satisfied'.

Table 1.9 Caring prevalence, 2008 to 2012

Aged 16 and over	2008 to 2012
Regular carera	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
	%	%	%	%	%
Men
Provides regular care	9	10	10	11	17
Women
Provides regular care	14	14	14	14	20
All adults
Provides regular care	11	12	12	13	18
Bases (weighted):
Men	3083	3598	3466	3610	2309
Women	3376	3926	3776	3932	2506
All adults	6459	7524	7242	7542	4815
Bases (unweighted):
Men	2838	3285	3113	3280	2127
Women	3622	4241	4129	4262	2688
All adults	6460	7526	7242	7542	4815
a Provides regular help or care for any sick, disabled or frail person (excluding caring done as part of paid employment). In 2012, the question was amended to specifically mention problems related to old age.

Table 1.10 Caring prevalence, 2012, by age and sex

Aged 4 and over	2012
Regular carera	Age										Total 16+
	4-11	12-15	Total 4-15	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Males
Provides regular care	3	10	5	8	10	14	24	26	20	10	17
Females
Provides regular care	2	11	5	9	10	21	28	35	18	9	20
All
Provides regular care	2	10	5	9	10	18	26	31	19	9	18
Bases (weighted):
Males	439	237	676	339	383	380	420	362	251	173	2309
Females	420	217	637	326	376	414	456	383	287	263	2506
All persons	858	454	1313	665	760	795	876	745	539	435	4815
Bases (unweighted):
Males	421	222	643	170	228	346	409	364	385	225	2127
Females	433	220	653	228	329	474	500	443	388	326	2688
All persons	854	442	1296	398	557	820	909	807	773	551	4815
a Provides regular help or care for any person for reasons of long-term ill-health, disability, or problems relating to old age (excluding caring done as part of paid employment).