1. Wellbeing in Kings County Results from the GPI Community Survey Mike Pennock Martha Pennock Ron Colman

2. Majority of residents are satisfied with their lives…

3. % who are very satisfied

4. Life-satisfaction……. Increases with income (probably levels off in upper income) Highest among retirees and homemakers Mid-range for employed persons and students Lowest among unemployed

5. What would increase life- satisfaction Spend more time with family/friends72 % Less stress71% More financially secure68% More money53% Doing more for community49% More possessions16%

6. Core Values

7. Values and Life-Satisfaction Positive social values associated with life- satisfaction Materialistic values were not Consistent with literature

8. Alienation?

9. Spirituality 60%- spiritual values played an important role Higher in females (65%) than males (55%) Increases with age from 37% among youngest to 79% among over 65

10. Unemployment 12.7% higher than corresponding NS and can rates Highest among youngest (42%). Lowest among 35-44 (8.5%)

11. Strongly associated with education

12. Unemployed 52% of unemployed were long-term (25 weeks+) 16% were pessimistic about finding work Both higher among males

13. Part-time 15% working part-time Higher in females (22%) than males (8%) 15% of part-timers are involuntary Higher among females (17%) than males (9%)

14. Benefits Full-timePart-time Pension6125 Health6923 Dental5817 Sick6626 Vacation7944 Education235

15. Self-rated Health 52% excellent or very good 18% poor or fair No gender differences Health declined with age Increased with income

16. Substantial income effects

17. Also in chronic disease prevalence

18. and activity restrictions

19. Smoking 17% daily smokers- close to nat’l average and slightly lower than NS rate No gender differences Highest among middle-aged (23%)) Lowest among 55+ (10%) Mid-range among 35 and under (15%) Income effect- from 23% to 12%

20. Obesity 23%- higher than NS (20%) and Canada (15%) No gender differences Highest in 25 to 34 and 45 to 64 Lowest in 65+ Highest in middle-income groups

21. Sedentary Lifestyle 19% with no gender differences No age effect U-shaped curve with age (highest in low income (21%) and highest income (22%)

22. Physical activities at least 5X per week 43% Males slightly higher (45%) than females (41%) U-shaped with age- lowest among middle- aged No income effect (positive)

23. Preventive practices past year Mammogram64%Much higher than NS and Canada rate BP monitoring74% Pap smear47%Lower than NS and Canada rate Strong income effect Breast exam by health professional 45%Strong income effect

24. Mental Health Strong Age Effects

25. Difficulty in thinking clearly and solving problems

26. And emotional distress Two or more symptoms

27. Depressed Mood

28. Also, Strong income effects on all measures Gender effect on depressed mood but not others

29. Childhood Risk Factors TotalMalesFemales Parental Unemployment 15 Parental Substance Abuse 211922 Child abuse85.511

30. Adult effects

31. Life Stress Somewhat or very stressful

32. Peaks in middle-age

33. Some income effect

34. One and two-income families

35. Stressed lives 43 % consider themselves workaholics Only 15% planned on cutting back next year

36. Stressed lives cont’d 53%Cutback on sleep 53%Don’t have fun anymore 43%Don’t accomplish what was planned 37%Not enough time with family and friends 31%Always trying to accomplish too much 29%Trapped in a daily routine Most higher in females

37. Job Stresses MaleFemaleTotal Too many demands3938 Too many hours211819 Too few hours81110 Lack of autonomy/ control 141314 Risk of injury1258 Threat of layoff121413 Gender differences less pronounced

38. Would trade pay increases for fewer hours

39. Volunteering 51% gave unpaid help to group or organization Highest among 35+ Positive relationship with income 51% very satisfied and 41% somewhat satisfied

40. Reasons for not volunteering No time41% Not interested17% Not asked16% Health problem14% Not aware6%

41. Informal Volunteering Provided by 59% Higher in females (62%) than males (56%)

42. Willing to do more if asked 49% would give more time if asked Males- 55% Young (15 to 24) 76% Low income (58%)

43. Unpaid Caregiving

44. Higher in low-income homes

45. Social Support MaleFemaleTotal Someone you can count on in times of crisis 93.794.994.4 Someone to give you advice when making important decisions 90.692.391.5 Someone who makes you feel loved and cared for 94.494.994.7

46. Social Support Strong income gradient across categories Lowest among unemployed

47. Crime and security 14% of both genders had been victimized during past five years Peaked among middle-aged and lowest among elderly Highest (20%) in high income Lowest (9%) in low income26% knoew someone else who had been victimized

48. Safety 97% were satisfied with their sense of safety from crime Males more likely to be “very satisfied” 28% felt neighbourhood was very safe (44% for males) 45% felt it was reasonably safe Females more likely to not walk alone at night 22% vs 15%

49. Understanding the ecological footprint Income Quintile 1 st Quintile 2 nd Quintile 3 rd Quintile 4 th Quintile 5 th Quintile Consumption expenditure 9,94910,55011,13112,99517,001 Ecological footprint6.26.67.08.110.7 Source: GPI Atlantic, The Nova Scotia Ecological Footprint, March 2001

50. Vehicle Use Vehicles per household Kms/Vehicle per year Household Kms -20,0001.017,77713,772 20,000-34,9991.419,26822,629 35,000-49,9991.520,86127,530 50,000-69,9991.820,96634,665 70,0002.022,60040,384 Higher income households more likely to own minivans and SUV’s

51. Ecological Attitudes MaleFemaleTotal The way we live produces too much waste84.9 The way we live consumes too many resources80.876.778.6 We focus too much on getting what we want now and not enough on conserving resources for future generations 83.183.0 Most of us buy and consume more than we need.84.388.386.5 Today’s youth are too focussed on buying and consuming thin 73.881.377.9 I spend nearly all of my money on the basic necessities of life 40.455.548.6 If I wanted to, I could choose to buy and consume less than I do. 68.565.666.9

52. Out of Balance Lives Socially motivated persons who see themselves as living in a materialistic society Want less stress and more time with families Highly stressed particularly in two-income families (particularly females) 25% would trade pay increase for reduced hours Recognize that they over consume and the ecological consequences

53. Continuing Inequities Lower income households have poorer mental and physical health, and disabilities Lowest levels of social support Higher levels of care-giving

54. Health Challenges Higher rates of obesity Don’t forget the young –Mental health issues

55. The Good High levels of health and wellbeing High levels of social support High levels of safety Strong volunteerism Strong ecological commitment