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Publication - Research and analysis

Coronavirus (COVID-19): shielding survey report - January 2021

Published
22 February 2021
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland, Health and social care, Public safety and emergencies
ISBN
9781800046825

Publication of results from a survey conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 which explored areas such as: the impact of services and support provided by the Scottish Government's Shielding Division, thoughts on vaccination, and how pausing shielding in Scotland has impacted different aspects of life.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Impact of Pausing Shielding

Public Health Scotland (PHS) conducted a survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the shielding programme and the impact of the advice provided on a number of aspects of people’s lives (covering March – 31 August 2020). In this survey the question set around the ‘impact of shielding’ from the PHS survey was mirrored, and answers reframed, to understand whether these aspects of respondents lives had changed since shielding had been paused.

For many areas, the survey indicated there had been no change. However, there were areas where people identified that things had got worse since shielding was paused, including:

  • 45% of respondents saying that the amount of physical activity they did had been worse
  • 42% of respondents saying that their eating habits had got worse
  • 41% of respondents saying that their mental health had got worse.

It is not possible to directly root these responses to; policy changes, the general context of coronavirus in the UK, or the many changes that occurred during the survey being live, but it’s likely that all of these areas will have had an impact on responses.

Quality of life

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on people’s quality of life.
Much worse 23%
A little worse 22%
No change 28%
A little better 25%
Much better 12%
Not relevant for me 1%
Response count 4135

Mental health

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on people’s mental health.
Much worse 15%
A little worse 26%
No change 32%
A little better 14%
Much better 9%
Not relevant for me 4%
Response count 4136

The condition(s) for which they were shielding

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on the condition(s) for which people were shielding.
Much worse 7%
A little worse 22%
No change 61%
A little better 5%
Much better 3%
Not relevant for me 2%
Response count 4131

The quality of care they receive

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on the quality of care they receive.
Much worse 7%
A little worse 12%
No change 54%
A little better 3%
Much better 3%
Not relevant for me 22%
Response count 4123

Relationship with their partner

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on their relationship with their partner.
Much worse 3%
A little worse 9%
No change 48%
A little better 6%
Much better 5%
Not relevant for me 30%
Response count 4127

Relationship with their children

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on their relationship with their children.
Much worse 2%
A little worse 8%
No change 46%
A little better 6%
Much better 6%
Not relevant for me 32%
Response count 4130

Relationship with other friends and family

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on their relationship with other friends and family.
Much worse 6%
A little worse 18%
No change 56%
A little better 9%
Much better 6%
Not relevant for me 5%
Response count 4132

Employment

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on their employment.
Much worse 10%
A little worse 10%
No change 19%
A little better 3%
Much better 3%
Not relevant for me 56%
Response count 4124

Education

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on their education.
Much worse 1%
A little worse 1%
No change 9%
A little better 1%
Much better 1%
Not relevant for me 88%
Response count 4107

Financial situation

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted on their financial situation.
Much worse 11%
A little worse 16%
No change 55%
A little better 6%
Much better 2%
Not relevant for me 11%
Response count 4128

Eating habits

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted their eating habits.
Much worse 14%
A little worse 28%
No change 45%
A little better 9%
Much better 3%
Not relevant for me 2%
Response count 4128

How much physical activity they do

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted their physical activity.
Much worse 21%
A little worse 24%
No change 27%
A little better 16%
Much better 10%
Not relevant for me 2%
Response count 4130

Alcohol consumption

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted their alcohol consumption.
Much worse 21%
A little worse 24%
No change 27%
A little better 16%
Much better 10%
Not relevant for me 2%
Response count 4130

Use of tobacco

Chart showing responses to question asking how pausing shielding has impacted their use of tobacco.
Much worse 3%
A little worse 4%
No change 10%
A little better 1%
Much better 1%
Not relevant for me 81%
Response count 4132

Contact

Email: shielding.research@gov.scot

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