Barriers to adherence with COVID-19 restrictions

Annex

Sample details:

Respondents were self-selecting and were recruited through engagement with partner stakeholder organisations working across Scotland. Basic demographic information was collected from respondents to support analysis. It is not a nationally representative sample. It is not representative of the wider Scottish population.

• Age – Around three fifths (59%) of respondents were aged between 45 and 64, around a quarter (27%) were aged 18-44, and around one in ten (13%) were aged 65+
• Gender – the majority (79%) of respondents were women, and under a fifth (18%) were men
• Disability – around one third (34%) of respondents reported having a long-standing physical or mental impairment, illness or disability which is expected to last 12 months or more
• Ethnicity – the majority (98%) of respondents were white
• Employment – over half (56%) of respondents were employed full-time in March of 2020, under a fifth (18%) were employed part-time, and just over one in ten (12%) were retired

Questions:

Respondents were asked to respond freely to the following questions.

1. Which parts of the restrictions and guidance do you find it easiest to follow?

2. What has made it easier for you to follow these restrictions?

3. What parts of the restrictions and guidance do you find it most difficult to follow?

4. What has made it difficult for you to follow these restrictions?

5. Are you finding it easier or harder to follow the current local restrictions now than the national lockdown restrictions earlier in the year (from March to June)?

6. Have you been required to self-isolate for any of these reasons (not including shielding) since the beginning of March 2020? [Yes/No]

7. If yes, please could you describe your experience(s) of self-isolation, including anything that made it difficult for you to stay at home?

8. If yes, please could you share what would have made the experience easier and allowed you to stay at home for the full time required?

9. If no, what do you think would be most difficult about having to self-isolate for 14 days if required to do so?

10. What do you think would make it easier to self-isolate for 14 days if required to do so?

Responses were analysed thematically by Scottish Government researchers. Common themes were identified and excerpts from different respondents were used to illustrate these themes.

Limitations:

The sample for this research was self-selected, and is not representative of the wider Scottish population. Furthermore, the nature of online research inherently excludes those who do not have internet access. This report nevertheless provides useful and timely information, as long as appropriate caveats are applied.