The New Zealand General Social Survey 2010 Philip Walker and Scott Ussher 1st December 2011

NZGSS 2010 – results and opportunities NZGSS is a multi-dimensional survey of wellbeing… Researchers and policy makers can access NZGSS unit record data directly though the NZGSS CURF which is released today

Products using GSS 2008 CURF Measuring Social Inclusion: People with experience of mental distress and addiction (Mental Health Commission, September 2011) Maori Life Satisfaction Fact sheet (Te Puni Kokiri, February 2011). Benefits of tertiary certificates and diplomas – exploring economic and social outcomes (Ministry of Education, May 2010)

Second survey in the series (first in 2008) Achieved samples of more than 8,000 individuals More than 400 variables covering twelve life domains plus demographics and overall life satisfaction. NZGSS 2010

Offers unique perspective includes objective and subjective measures across a wide range of social and economic outcomes shows the distribution of well being outcomes across population groupings.

Cross-domain analysis “Developments in one domain of quality of life affect other domains” “The consequences for quality of life of having multiple disadvantages far exceed the sum of their individual effects” Stiglitz et al

Wellbeing and social connectedness Social connectedness has been identified as one of the strongest predictors of peoples’ subjective wellbeing Includes: –being partnered –contact with family and friends –volunteering

The association between social isolation and health Research questions –Is there an association between isolation and physical and mental health? –Do these associations remain after adjusting for covariate factors? –What other factors have an adjusted association with isolation?

Framework for social isolation and health Social isolation Health Mental health Physical health Social Living alone Work/study Economic Standard of living Demographic Age Gender Ethnicity

GSS variables Framework variableGSS domain Social isolationSocial connectedness Physical healthHealth Mental healthHealth Living aloneCore household Work/studyPaid work Knowledge and skills Standard of livingEconomic standard of living AgeCore person GenderCore person EthnicityCore person

Social isolation by mental health

Social isolation by physical health

Social isolation by age

Other findings Other people more likely to feel socially isolated are: –Females –People living alone –People living in economic hardship –Asian and Māori –Unemployed

Multivariate analysis Findings from an initial multivariate analysis –Association with mental health significant –Association with physical health is not –Other significant factors Economic standard of living Age Living alone Asian

How to apply for a CURF Applications for a CURF can be made through Statistics NZ website (search micro data) Or you can talk to us after the seminar!

CURF costs For universities in the CONZUL agreement the CURF is free. For everyone else the costs are: Assessment and Approval admin fee $405 User set-up fee $30 Project support charge $7.50 per month for the duration of the project.

Questions?