Consequences, risk factors, and geography of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)

Appendix 1 Selection of explanatory variables for analyses of consequences of NEET

Educational attainment

Several explanatory variables were included in the models on the basis of previous research. Educational attainment measured when sample individuals were aged between 26 and 29 were included. The majority of the sample would therefore have passed through the education system by this point. Education is understood as the largest influence in a successful transition from school to work (Bynner and Parsons, 2002, Croll, 2009). The reference category was set as those with no qualifications, who were compared with those with Standard Grade qualifications (lower high school level), those with Highers and equivalent (university entrance level) qualifications, those with college level qualifications and those with degrees.

Deprivation

Carstairs deprivation measures were included in the model. The Carstairs index was developed to measure area deprivation (Carstairs and Morris, 1990). The Carstairs deprivation index is defined as the sum of four standardised percentage variables from the census: male residents in unemployment, residents in overcrowded households (more than one person per room), residents in households with no car, and residents in lower social classes (partly skilled and unskilled occupations).These were included as quintiles, with those in the least deprived areas as the reference category. This enabled measurement of any association between deprivation background and subsequent outcomes.

Limiting long-term illness

Limiting long-term illness (LLTI) in the model was measured at the Census prior to that for outcome. It may be expected that people reporting LLTI would experience a negative effect in relation to life chances. Experiencing a limiting or chronic health condition may be related to poorer educational performance and more precarious attachment to the labour force. Mechanisms like these could affect subsequent outcomes such as employment or health. The LLTI measures were dichotomised so that we compared those reporting illness with those reporting no LLTI.

Council area - NEET hotspots

In Scotland seven councils have been noted as NEET hotspots where action should be targeted (Scottish Executive 2006). The 'hotspots' were defined as such because they scored highly on five geographical measures which are known to relate to or influence the rate of NEET, including the NEET rate itself. The reference category is all other council areas.