Scottish household survey 2019: culture and heritage - report

Reports on culture and heritage data from the 2019 Scottish Household Survey.


6 Impact of Culture and Heritage  

In 2019, two new biennial questions regarding the impact of culture on people’s lives were introduced to the Scottish Household Survey.

Respondents were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed with a number of statements (Table 6.1).[37] Just under a half of respondents (46 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (21 per cent and 25 per cent respectively) with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’. Twenty-six per cent neither agreed nor disagreed with the statement, and 24 per cent either tended to disagree or strongly disagreed (14 per cent and 9 per cent respectively) with the statement. 

Around half of adults (50 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (18 per cent and 33 per cent respectively) with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my local community’. Just under half of respondents (45 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (14 per cent and 31 per cent respectively) that there are lots of opportunities to get involved in culture and the arts in their local area. 

Half of respondents (50 per cent) either tended to disagree or strongly disagreed (23 per cent and 27 per cent respectively) with the statement ‘culture and the arts are not really for me’. 

The majority of respondents (86 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (59 per cent and 26 per cent respectively) that it is important to them that Scotland’s heritage[38] is well looked after. The majority of respondents (69 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree that the heritage of their local area is well looked after (34 and 35 per cent respectively).

Table 6.1: Views on culture and heritage - Percentage of adults, 2019 data 
Adults Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree No opinion Base
Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life 21 25 26 14 9 4 9,780
Culture and the arts are not really for me 10 19 18 23 27 3 9,780
Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my local community 18 33 26 9 4 11 9,780
There are lots of opportunities to get involved in culture and the arts if I want to in my local area 14 31 24 13 6 12 9,780
It is important to me that Scotland’s heritage is well looked after 59 26 9 1 1 4 9,780
The heritage of my local area is well looked after 34 35 16 5 2 8 9,780

Those respondents who either strongly agreed or tended to agree that culture and the arts make a positive difference to their life were further asked about the type of positive difference culture and the arts make. 

Over three in four (77 per cent) of those who said that culture and the arts make a positive difference to their life reported that culture and the arts make them feel happy or are something that they really enjoy (Table 6.2). Forty-four percent said that culture and the arts improve their mental health and wellbeing. Twenty-eight per cent reported learning new skills and knowledge, and twenty seven per cent reported that meeting new people and making new friends as a reason for culture and the arts making a positive difference to their lives.

Table 6.2: Reasons for culture and the arts making a positive difference to people’s lives - Percentage of adults, 2019 data 
Adults 2019
Makes me feel happy/something I really enjoy 77
Improves my physical health and fitness 16
Improves my mental health and wellbeing 44
Takes my mind off my problems 24
I am meeting new people/making new friends 27
I am learning new skills/knowledge 28
Helps me to feel part of my local community 17
Other reason 3
Base 4,350

6.1 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Gender

Women were more likely than men to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (48 per cent and 44 per cent respectively) (Table 6.3). Women were more likely than men to strongly agree with the statement (23 per cent and 20 per cent respectively). Men were more likely than women to strongly disagree with the statement (10 per cent and 8 per cent respectively).

Table 6.3: Views on the statement ‘Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ by gender - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 4,360)
Adults Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree No opinion Base
Women 23 25 26 14 8 5 5,410
Men 20 24 27 15 10 4 4,360
Identified in another way * * * * * * 0
Refused * * * * * * 0
All 21 25 26 14 9 4 9,780

6.2 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Age

People aged 75 and over were the least likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree (36 per cent) as well as tend to disagree or strongly disagree (34 per cent) with the statement that ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (Table 6.4). People aged 75 and over were the least likely to strongly agree with the statement (16 per cent). People aged 75 and over, together with 60 to 74-year-olds, were also the most likely to strongly disagree with the statement (both 13 per cent respectively).

Table 6.4: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by age - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 620)
Adults Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree No opinion Base
16 to 24 23 26 26 13 6 6 620
25 to 34 22 24 29 12 8 5 1,320
35 to 44 23 26 28 12 7 4 1,420
45 to 59 22 25 27 14 9 3 2,410
60 to 74 20 24 23 17 13 3 2,540
75 plus 16 20 22 21 13 7 1,470
All 21 25 26 14 9 4 9,780

6.3 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Highest Level of Qualification 

Those with no qualifications were the least likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (23 per cent – see Table 6.5). There was a general pattern of agreement decreasing with level of qualifications. Those with no qualifications were also the most likely to either tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (41 per cent). Those with a degree or a professional qualification were the most likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree (67 per cent) with the statement, and the least likely to tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (12 per cent).

Those with a degree or a professional qualification were more likely than other groups to strongly agree with the statement. Thirty-six per cent of those with a degree or a professional qualification strongly agreed while nine per cent of those with no qualifications strongly agreed. Those with no qualifications were the most likely to strongly disagree with the statement (20 per cent). Four per cent of those with a degree or a professional qualification strongly disagreed with the statement.

Table 6.5: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by highest level of qualification - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 70)
Adults Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree No opinion Base
Degree, Professional qualification 36 30 20 8 4 1 2,960
HNC/HND or equivalent 19 29 31 11 7 3 1,130
Higher, A level or equivalent 18 28 28 15 9 3 1,460
O Grade, Standard grade or equivalent 11 20 32 19 12 6 1,710
Other qualification 13 16 31 24 11 5 640
No qualifications 9 14 24 21 20 11 1,810
Qualifications not known 9 11 42 15 3 20 70
All 21 25 26 14 9 4 9,780

6.4 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

Those living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas (SIMD, 2020) were the least likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (34 per cent). They were also the most likely to either tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (31 per cent – see Table 6.6). Those living in the 20 per cent least deprived areas were the most likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement (58 per cent) as well as the least likely to tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (15 per cent). There was a general pattern of agreement decreasing with level of deprivation as well as of disagreement increasing with level of deprivation.

Those living in the 20 per cent least deprived areas and in areas falling within the fourth quintile were the most likely to strongly agree with the statement (28 per cent and 25 per cent respectively). Sixteen per cent of those living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas strongly agreed with the statement. Those living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas were the most likely to strongly disagree with the statement (13 per cent) while six per cent of those living in the 20 per cent least deprived areas strongly disagreed.

Table 6.6: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 1,800)
Adults Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree No opinion Base
20% Most deprived  16 18 28 18 13 7 1,830
2 16 24 27 17 10 6 1,980
3 21 25 25 15 10 4 2,150
4 25 25 26 13 8 3 2,020
20% Least deprived  28 30 25 10 6 2 1,800
All 21 25 26 14 9 4 9,780

6.5 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Net Annual Household Income

Those with a net annual household income of over £30,000 were the most likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (52 per cent). They were also the least likely to tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (18 per cent – see Table 6.7).

Those with a net annual income of between £0 and £10,000 and over £30,000 were the most likely to strongly agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (both 24 per cent respectively). While 14 per cent of those with an income of £0-£10,000 strongly disagreed with the statement, seven per cent of those with an income of over £30,000 strongly disagreed.

Table 6.7: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by net annual household income - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 900)
Adults Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree No opinion Base
£0-£10,000 24 19 23 15 14 6 900
£10,001 - £20,000 17 22 26 19 11 5 2,880
£20,001 - £30,000 18 24 26 16 11 5 2,100
Over £30,000 24 27 27 12 7 3 3,500
All 21 25 26 14 9 4 9,780

6.6 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Long-Term Physical or Mental Health Condition 

Those with a long-term physical or mental health condition that caused major reduced daily capacity were the least likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (33 per cent). They were also the most likely to either tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (35 per cent – see Table 6.8). Just under half (48 per cent) of those with no conditions tended to agree or strongly agreed with the statement and just over one in five (21 per cent) tended to disagree or strongly disagreed (14 per cent and seven per cent respectively) with the statement. 

Those with a condition that caused long-term major reduced daily capacity were the least likely to strongly agree with the statement. While 15 per cent of those belonging to this group strongly agreed with the statement, 23 per cent of those with no physical or mental health condition strongly agreed. Those with a long-term condition that caused major reduced daily capacity were the most likely to tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (17 per cent). Seven per cent of those with no physical or mental health condition strongly disagreed with the statement.

Table 6.8: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by long-term physical or mental health condition - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 610)
Adults Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree No opinion Base
Yes, causes long term major reduced daily capacity 15 18 23 18 17 9 1,560
Yes, causes long term minor reduced daily capacity 20 25 26 15 11 3 1,290
Yes, but no reduced daily capacity 20 28 25 14 10 3 610
None 23 26 27 14 7 4 6,270
All 21 25 26 14 9 4 9,780

Contact

Email: socialresearch@gov.scot

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