Experiencing Life Events and Childhood Subjective Wellbeing: A Longitudinal Analysis of Growing Up in Scotland
The findings of this report are not valid due to an error in the analysis. If you require further information, please email the Growing Up in Scotland mailbox at: GUS@gov.scot.
Results
Changes in subjective wellbeing
This analysis sought to explore the relationship between three key life events and changes in children's subjective wellbeing, to establish whether parental separation, bereavement and the experience of a family accident or illness causes any observable change in wellbeing.
Table 9.1 shows the changes observed in life satisfaction by changes in family type across the four sweeps. The majority of participants did not experience either a change in family type or a change in life satisfaction over time. Of those who experienced parental separation, 15% experienced an improvement in life satisfaction whereas 38.7% experienced a deterioration. Almost half (46%) did not experience a change in life satisfaction.
| Family type change | Life satisfaction change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | Stays constant | Improves | ||
| Becomes lone parent | 106 (38.7%) | 127 (46.4%) | 41 (15%) | 274 (100%) |
| No change in family type | 788 (31%) | 1344 (53%) | 406 (16%) | 2538 (100%) |
| Becomes couple | 58 (37.9%) | 71 (46.4%) | 24 (15.7%) | 153 (100%) |
| Total | 952 (32.1%) | 1542 (52%) | 471 (15.9%) | 2965 (100%) |
Table 9.2 shows the changes in life satisfaction for those who experienced the loss of a grandparent and those who did not. For those who experienced the loss of a grandparent, the majority (52.1%) did not experience a change in life satisfaction. A small percentage (15.7%) had an improvement in life satisfaction whereas (32.2%) had a deterioration in life satisfaction.
| Loss of a grandparent | Life satisfaction change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | Stays constant | Improves | ||
| No | 449 (31%) | 730 (51.9%) | 228 (16.2%) | 1407 (100%) |
| Yes | 504 (32.2%) | 816 (52.1%) | 245 (15.7%) | 1565 (100%) |
| Total | 953 (32.1%) | 1546 (52%) | 473 (15.9%) | 2972 (100%) |
Table 9.3 shows the changes in life satisfaction for those who experienced the loss of a parent or sibling and those who did not. For those who experienced the loss of a parent or a sibling, 43.3% did not experience a change in life satisfaction, 22.2% experienced an improvement in life satisfaction and 34.4% experienced a deterioration in life satisfaction. These numbers should be treated with caution due to low base sizes.
| Loss of a parent or sibling | Life satisfaction change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | Stays constant | Improves | ||
| No | 922 (32%) | 1507 (52.3%) | 453 (15.7%) | 2882 (100%) |
| Yes | 31 (34.4%) | 39 (43.3%) | 20 (22.2%) | 90 (100%) |
| Total | 953 (32.1%) | 1546 (52%) | 473 (15.9%) | 2972 (100%) |
Table 9.4 shows the changes in life satisfaction for those who experienced a family accident or illness and those who did not. 48.3% of those who did experience a family accident or illness experienced no change in life satisfaction, 16.4% experienced an improvement and 35.3% experienced a deterioration in life satisfaction.
| Accident or illness within the family | Life satisfaction change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | Stays constant | Improves | ||
| No | 742 (31.3%) | 1257 (59.2%) | 375 (15.8%) | 2374 (100%) |
| Yes | 211 (35.3%) | 289 (48.3%) | 98 (16.4%) | 598 (100%) |
| Total | 953 (32.1%) | 1546 (52%) | 473 (15.9%) | 2972 (100%) |
The tables shown below display the model output results, using changes in life satisfaction as the outcome. The reference category for the outcome was set to 'life satisfaction stays constant' to allow a deterioration and an improvement in the outcome to be compared to no change as the baseline.
The results shown in Table 10.1 indicate that becoming a lone parent family at some point across the four sweeps was statistically significantly associated with a deterioration in life satisfaction in comparison with life satisfaction remaining constant. Life satisfaction was also more likely to improve than to stay constant when experiencing parental separation however this result was not statistically significant. Compared with boys, girls were more likely to experience a deterioration in life satisfaction and less likely to experience an improvement in life satisfaction following parental separation.
Table 10.1 – MLR model – Parental Separation
Number of Observations = 2792
| Life Satisfaction Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Becomes lone parent family | .318* | .139 | .046 | .590 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.099 | .093 | -.281 | .084 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .582* .647* .607* | .151 .151 .162 | .287 .352 .289 | .878 .943 .925 |
| 2+ adults in household | .116 | .083 | -.047 | .278 |
| Girl | .414* | .083 | .251 | .576 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Becomes lone parent family | .071 | .185 | -.293 | .434 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.054 | .119 | -.288 | .180 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .465* .323 .439* | .180 .183 .196 | .112 -.037 .055 | .819 .634 .823 |
| 2+ adults in household | .129 | .106 | -.080 | .337 |
| Girl | -.318* | .108 | -.530 | -.106 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Table 10.2 shows the impact of both the loss of a grandparent and of a parent or sibling on the likelihood of experiencing changes in life satisfaction. Negative values can be seen for both deteriorating and improving life satisfaction for those who experienced the loss of a grandparent, indicating that those who experienced this life event were more likely to experience no change. For the loss of a parent or sibling, the model shows a statistically significant positive value for health improving indicating that life satisfaction was more likely to improve than to stay constant. However, the small sample size should be noted here. Experiencing the loss of a parent or sibling was also associated with health deteriorating compared with staying constant, however this was not statistically significant.
Table 10.2 – MLR model – Bereavement
Number of Observations = 2972
| Life Satisfaction Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Loss of a grandparent | -.028 | .085 | -.195 | .140 |
| Loss of a parent or sibling | .241 | .254 | -.257 | .739 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.134 | .070 | -.324 | .056 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .590* .662* .620* | .160 .159 .172 | .277 .349 .283 | .903 .976 .957 |
| 2+ adults in household | .118 | .088 | -.054 | .291 |
| Girl | .415* | .088 | .242 | .588 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Loss of a grandparent | -.051 | .108 | -.263 | .160 |
| Loss of a parent or sibling | .572* | .289 | .006 | 1.14 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.043 | .125 | -.288 | .203 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .473* .333 .443* | .191 .195 .208 | .097 -.049 .036 | .848 .716 .851 |
| 2+ adults in household | .128 | .113 | -.093 | .349 |
| Girl | -.323* | .115 | -.584 | -.098 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Table 10.3 shows the results for the impact of experiencing a family accident or illness on changes in life satisfaction. Positive coefficient values for both deteriorating and improving indicate that those who experienced this life event at some point across the four sweeps were more likely to have either deteriorating or improving life satisfaction as opposed to it remaining the same, however neither result was statistically significant.
Table 10.3 – MLR model - Accident or Illness Within the Family
Number of Observations = 2972
| Life Satisfaction Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Family accident or illness | .176 | .110 | -.040 | .392 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.133 | .101 | -.332 | .065 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .581* .653* .614* | .167 .167 .180 | .253 .325 .261 | .910 .981 .967 |
| 2+ adults in household | .113 | .092 | -.067 | .294 |
| Girl | .414* | .092 | .234 | .595 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Family accident or illness | .118 | .141 | -.157 | .394 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.057 | .131 | -.106 | .357 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .463* .321 .438* | .200 .204 .218 | .070 -.079 .012 | .856 .722 .865 |
| 2+ adults in household | .125 | .118 | -.106 | .357 |
| Girl | -.319* | .120 | -.555 | -.083 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Across all the models measuring changes in subjective wellbeing, the results indicated that, compared with boys, girls were more likely to experience a deterioration in life satisfaction and less likely to experience an improvement in comparison to life satisfaction remaining constant. This result was consistent across the subjective wellbeing models and was statistically significant.
Changes in BMI
Table 11.1 shows the changes in BMI variable by changes in family type across the four sweeps. Of those who experienced parental separation, 51 participants (17.4%) experienced becoming overweight or obese whereas only 8 participants (2.7%) experienced a becoming underweight. These findings should be treated with caution due to small base sizes.
| Family type change | BMI change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becomes underweight | Stays constant | Becomes overweight/obese | ||
| Becomes lone parent | 8 (2.7%) | 234 (79.9%) | 51 (17.4%) | 293 (100%) |
| No change in family type | 73 (2.7%) | 2211 (82%) | 412 (15.3%) | 2696 (100%) |
| Becomes couple | 2 (1.3%) | 134 (84.3%) | 23 (14.5%) | 159 (100%) |
| Total | 83 (2.6%) | 2579 (81.9%) | 486 (15.4%) | 3148 (100%) |
Table 11.2 shows the changes in BMI for those who experienced the loss of a grandparent and those who did not. For those who did experience the loss of a grandparent, the majority (83%) did not experience a change in BMI, 14.1% became overweight or obese and 2.9% became underweight.
| Loss of a grandparent | BMI change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becomes underweight | Stays constant | Becomes overweight/obese | ||
| No | 33 (2%) | 1391 (83.2%) | 248 (14.8%) | 1672 (100%) |
| Yes | 50 (2.9%) | 1417 (83%) | 241 (14.1%) | 1708 (100%) |
| Total | 83 (2.5%) | 2808 (83.1%) | 489 (14.5%) | 3380 (100%) |
Table 11.3 shows the changes in BMI for those who experienced the loss of a parent or sibling and those who did not. The majority of those who experienced the loss of a parent or a sibling (82%) did not experience a change in BMI, 16% became overweight or obese and only 2% of the participants who lost a parent or sibling became underweight.
| Loss of a parent or sibling | BMI change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becomes underweight | Stays constant | Becomes overweight/obese | ||
| No | 81 (2.5%) | 2726 (83.1%) | 473 (14.4%) | 3280 (100%) |
| Yes | 2 (2%) | 82 (82%) | 16 (16%) | 100 (100%) |
| Total | 83 (2.5%) | 2808 (83.1%) | 489 (14.5%) | 3380 (100%) |
Table 11.4 shows the changes in BMI for those who experienced a family accident or illness and those who did not. Most (82.1%) of those who experienced a family accident or illness experienced no change in BMI, 16.3% became overweight or obese while only 10 participants (1.6%) who experienced this life event became underweight.
| Accident or illness within the family | BMI change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becomes underweight | Stays constant | Becomes overweight/obese | ||
| No | 73 (2.7%) | 2289 (83.3%) | 386 (14%) | 2748 (100%) |
| Yes | 10 (1.6%) | 519 (82.1%) | 103 (16.3%) | 632 (100%) |
| Total | 83 (2.5%) | 2808 (83.1%) | 489 (14.5%) | 3380 (100%) |
The results in table 12.1 show positive coefficient values for becoming a lone parent family for becoming both underweight and overweight. This indicates that BMI was more likely to change in either direction, to become either overweight/obese or underweight, than it was to remain constant following parental separation. Neither result was statistically significant therefore no conclusions can be drawn from this regarding the influence of parental separation on changes in BMI.
Table 12.1 – MLR model – Change in Family Type
Number of Observations = 3148
| BMI Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becomes Underweight | ||||
| Becomes lone parent family | .113 | .366 | -.604 | .830 |
| Household income £29k+ | .191 | .262 | -.324 | .705 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .012 -.132 -.099 | .365 .382 .417 | -.704 -.881 -.917 | .728 .617 .719 |
| 2+ adults in household | .169 | .230 | -.281 | .620 |
| Girl | -.118 | .228 | -.565 | .330 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Becomes Overweight | ||||
| Becomes lone parent family | .121 | .158 | -.189 | .431 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.019 | .113 | -.242 | .203 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .019 .210 .067 | .162 .163 .181 | -.300 -.109 -.287 | .337 .592 .421 |
| 2+ adults in household | .198* | .103 | -.003 | .400 |
| Girl | -.082 | .101 | -.280 | .116 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Table 12.2 shows the model results for changes in BMI for those who experienced bereavement. No statistically significant results were observed for changes in BMI for those who experienced the loss of any family member. The model results show that those who experienced the loss of a grandparent were more likely to become underweight and less likely to become overweight compared with experiencing no change in their BMI. Those who experienced the loss of a parent or sibling were less likely to become underweight and more likely to become overweight compared with their BMI staying the same, however these results were not significant.
Number of observations = 3380
| BMI Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becomes Underweight | ||||
| Loss of a grandparent | .335 | .248 | -.132 | .842 |
| Loss of a parent or sibling | -.158 | .787 | -1.70 | 1.14 |
| Household income £29k+ | .174 | .297 | -.409 | .757 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .297 .133 .168 | .426 .445 .486 | -.539 -.740 -.785 | 1.13 1.01 1.12 |
| 2+ adults in household | .158 | .267 | -.366 | .681 |
| Girl | -.105 | .265 | -.625 | .415 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Becomes Overweight | ||||
| Loss of a grandparent | -.105 | .107 | -.316 | .105 |
| Loss of a parent or sibling | .120 | .303 | -.475 | .714 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.030 | .128 | -.281 | .222 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .339 .524* .411* | .188 .188 .208 | -.029 .155 .004 | .707 .893 .818 |
| 2+ adults in household | .231* | .199 | -.002 | .463 |
| Girl | -.070 | .177 | -.300 | .159 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
The model results shown in table 12.3 indicate that those who experienced a family accident or illness at some point across the four sweeps were less likely to become underweight and more likely to become overweight than for their BMI to remain constant. However, the results observed were not statistically significant, therefore no conclusions can be drawn from these results regarding the influence of experiencing a family accident or illness on changes in BMI.
Number of Observations = 3380
| BMI Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becomes Underweight | ||||
| Family accident or illness | -.540 | .350 | -1.23 | .146 |
| Household income £29k+ | .157 | .282 | -.395 | .710 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .383 .219 .261 | .409 .422 .458 | -.409 -.609 -.637 | 1.18 1.05 1.16 |
| 2+ adults in household | .173 | .253 | -.324 | .699 |
| Girl | -.083 | .251 | -.575 | .409 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Becomes Overweight | ||||
| Family accident or illness | .108 | .125 | -.138 | .353 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.029 | .121 | .007 | .447 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .315 .500* .385* | .178 .178 .196 | -.033 .152 .001 | .663 .848 .796 |
| 2+ adults in household | .227* | .122 | .007 | .447 |
| Girl | -.073 | .111 | -.138 | .353 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Changes in physical health
Table 13.1 shows the changes in physical health by changes in family type across the four sweeps. The majority of participants did not experience either a change in family type or a change in physical health over time. Of those who experienced parental separation, 10% experienced an improvement in life satisfaction whereas 22.6% experienced a deterioration.
| Family type change | Physical health change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical health deteriorates | Stays constant | Physical health improves | ||
| Becomes lone parent | 72 (22.6%) | 215 (67.4%) | 32 (10%) | 319 (100%) |
| No change in family type | 610 (19.9%) | 2161 (70.6%) | 292 (9.5%) | 3063 (100%) |
| Becomes couple | 40 (22.9%) | 120 (68.6%) | 15 (8.6%) | 175 (100%) |
| Total | 722 (20.3%) | 2496 (70.2%) | 339 (9.5%) | 3557 (100%) |
Table 13.2 shows the changes in physical health for those who experienced the loss of a grandparent and those who did not. For those who experienced the loss of a grandparent, the majority (70.5%) did not experience a change in physical health. A small percentage (9.8%) had an improvement in physical health whereas (19.7%) had a deterioration.
| Loss of a grandparent | Physical health change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical health deteriorates | Stays constant | Physical health improves | ||
| No | 400 (18.8%) | 1560 (73.2%) | 172 (8.1%) | 2132 (100%) |
| Yes | 381 (19.7%) | 1363 (70.5%) | 190 (9.8%) | 1937 (100%) |
| Total | 781 (19.2%) | 2923 (71.9%) | 362 (8.9%) | 4066 (100%) |
Table 13.3 shows the changes in physical health for those who experienced the loss of a parent or sibling and those who did not. For those who experienced this life event, the majority (70.5%) did not experience a change in physical health. A small percentage (9.3%) had an improvement in physical health whereas (19.2%) had a deterioration.
| Loss of a parent or sibling | Physical health change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical health deteriorates | Stays constant | Physical health improves | ||
| No | 755 (19.2%) | 2832 (71.9%) | 350 (8.9%) | 3937 (100%) |
| Yes | 26 (20.2%) | 91 (70.5%) | 12 (9.3%) | 129 (100%) |
| Total | 781 (19.2%) | 2923 (71.9%) | 362 (8.9%) | 4066 (100%) |
Table 13.4 shows the changes in physical health for those who experienced a family accident or illness and those who did not. 62.7% of those who did experience a family accident or illness experienced no change in physical health, 13.7% experienced an improvement and 23.6% experienced a deterioration in physical health.
| Accident or illness within the family | Physical health change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical health deteriorates | Stays constant | Physical health improves | ||
| No | 612 (18.3%) | 2474 (73.9%) | 264 (7.9%) | 3350 (100%) |
| Yes | 169 (23.6%) | 449 (62.7%) | 98 (13.7%) | 716 (100%) |
| Total | 781 (19.2%) | 2923 (71.9%) | 362 (8.9%) | 4066 (100%) |
Table 14.1 shows the model results for changes in physical health for those who experienced parental separation. Physical health was more likely to deteriorate or to improve than to stay constant over time for those who experienced parental separation, however these findings were not statistically significant.
Number of Observations = 3557
| Physical Health Condition Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Becomes lone parent family | .062 | .161 | -.253 | .378 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.257* | .120 | -.244 | .165 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .488* .565 .708* | .162 .161 .172 | .170 .249 .370 | .806 .881 1.05 |
| 2+ adults in household | -.029 | .099 | -.244 | .165 |
| Girl | .183* | .098 | -.009 | .376 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Becomes lone parent family | .015 | .222 | -.421 | .451 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.288 | .156 | -.594 | .018 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .123 -.189 .081 | .206 .217 .227 | -.281 -.631 -.367 | .528 .263 .529 |
| 2+ adults in household | .338* | .141 | .062 | .614 |
| Girl | -.291* | .141 | -.594 | .018 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
The results displayed in table 14.2 indicate that experiencing the loss of a grandparent as well as of a parent or sibling were negatively associated with physical health deteriorating as opposed to remaining constant across the four sweeps. Experiencing the loss of a grandparent as well as of a parent or sibling were positively associated with physical health improving as opposed to remaining constant. These results were not statistically significant and were based on a small number of observations, reducing their reliability and generalisability.
Number of Observations = 4066
| Physical Health Condition Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Loss of a grandparent | -.009 | .084 | -.174 | .156 |
| Loss of a parent or sibling | -.007 | .234 | -.466 | .452 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.263* | .101 | -.461 | -.064 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .609* .689* .833* | .142 .141 .151 | .330 .413 .536 | .887 .965 1.13 |
| 2+ adults in household | -.002 | .092 | -.182 | .179 |
| Girl | .187* | .092 | .007 | .368 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Loss of a grandparent | .210 | .116 | -.018 | .438 |
| Loss of a parent or sibling | .029 | .321 | -.601 | .659 |
| Household income £29k+ | .285* | .145 | -.596 | .000 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .351 .027 .279 | .189 .199 .211 | -.021 -.363 -.134 | .722 .417 .692 |
| 2+ adults in household | .358* | .133 | .098 | .618 |
| Girl | -.272* | .133 | -.532 | -.011 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Table 14.3 shows the model results for the likelihood of experiencing a change in physical health for those who experienced a family accident or illness. Statistically significant positive coefficient values indicate that those who experienced an accident or illness within the family were more likely to have a change, either an improvement or a deterioration, in physical health compared with their physical health staying the same over time.
Number of Observations = 4066
| Physical Health Condition Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Family accident or illness | .337* | .116 | .110 | .564 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.250 | .113 | -.471 | -.030 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .581* .662* .806* | .157 .156 .168 | .272 .355 .477 | .890 .968 1.14 |
| 2+ adults in household | -.013 | .106 | -.214 | .188 |
| Girl | .181 | .102 | -.020 | .381 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Family accident or illness | .681* | .148 | .391 | .971 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.248 | .161 | -.564 | .069 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .322 .000 .261 | .210 .222 .234 | -.090 -.435 -.198 | .735 .434 .719 |
| 2+ adults in household | .335* | .148 | .045 | .625 |
| Girl | -.281* | .148 | -.570 | .009 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Overall, having two or more adults present in the household was consistently positively associated with physical health improving compared to remaining constant. Additionally, health was more likely to deteriorate rather than stay the same for girls compared with boys and less likely to improve over time. These results were statistically significant across the models.
Changes in mental health
Table 15.1 shows the changes observed in mental health by changes in family type across the four sweeps. The majority of participants (80.8%) did not experience either a change in family type or a change in SDQ score. Of those who experienced parental separation, 16.8% experienced an increase in SDQ score whereas 14.1% experienced a decrease.
| Family type change | SDQ score change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDQ score decreases | Stays constant | SDQ score increases | ||
| Becomes lone parent | 43 (14.1%) | 210 (69.1%) | 51 (16.8%) | 304 (100%) |
| No change in family type | 257 (9.1%) | 2290 (80.8%) | 287 (10.1%) | 2834 (100%) |
| Becomes couple | 17 (10.4%) | 123 (75.5%) | 23 (14.1%) | 163 (100%) |
| Total | 317 (9.6%) | 2623 (79.5%) | 361 (10.9%) | 3301 (100%) |
Table 15.2 shows the changes in mental health for those who experienced the loss of a grandparent and those who did not. For those who experienced the loss of a grandparent, the majority (78.9%) did not experience a change in SDQ score. Of those who were bereaved of a grandparent, 11.1% experienced an increase and 10% experienced a decrease in SDQ score.
| Loss of a grandparent | SDQ score change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDQ score decreases | Stays constant | SDQ score increases | ||
| No | 148 (9.2%) | 1282 (80%) | 173 (10.8%) | 1603 (100%) |
| Yes | 171 (10%) | 1345 (78.9%) | 189 (11.1%) | 1705 (100%) |
| Total | 319 (9.6%) | 2627 (79.4%) | 362 (10.9%) | 3308 (100%) |
Table 15.3 shows the changes observed in mental health for those who experienced the loss of a parent or sibling at some point across the four sweeps. For those who experienced this life event, the majority (67.6%) did not experience a change in SDQ score. Of those who did lose a parent or sibling, 13.3% experienced an increase and 19% of participants experienced a decrease in SDQ score.
| Loss of a parent or sibling | SDQ score change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDQ score decreases | Stays constant | SDQ score increases | ||
| No | 229 (9.3%) | 2556 (79.8%) | 348 (10.9%) | 3203 (100%) |
| Yes | 20 (19%) | 71 (67.6%) | 14 (13.3%) | 105 (100%) |
| Total | 319 (9.6%) | 2627 (79.4%) | 362 (10.9%) | 3308 (100%) |
Table 15.4 shows the changes observed in mental health separately for those who experienced an accident or illness within the family at some point across the four sweeps and those who did not. Of those who did experience this life event, most did not experience a change in SDQ score (73.3%), whereas 13.8% experienced an increase and 13% of participants experienced a decrease in SDQ score.
| Accident or illness within the family | SDQ score change | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDQ score decreases | Stays constant | SDQ score increases | ||
| No | 235 (8.8%) | 2153 (80.9%) | 273 (10.3%) | 2661 (100%) |
| Yes | 84 (13%) | 474 (73.3%) | 89 (13.8%) | 647 (100%) |
| Total | 319 (9.6%) | 2627 (79.4%) | 362 (10.9%) | 3308 (100%) |
Table 16.1 shows the model results for changes in mental health for those who experienced parental separation. The results indicate that those who experienced parental separation were more likely to experience a deterioration in mental health compared with no change over time. However, those who experienced parental separation were also more likely to experience an improvement in mental health compared with experiencing no change in mental health. Both results were statistically significant, indicating that those experiencing this life event were more likely to experience a change in either direction.
Number of Observations = 3308
| SDQ Score Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Becomes lone parent | .333* | .199 | -.058 | .725 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.536* | .159 | -.848 | -.233 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | -.128 .182 .606* | .222 .217 .219 | -.242 -.563 .176 | .607 .307 1.04 |
| 2+ adults in household | .035 | .141 | -.241 | .311 |
| Girl | .270* | .140 | -.066 | .541 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Becomes lone parent | .454* | .187 | .087 | .821 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.421* | .145 | -.705 | -.137 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .540* .830* 1.05* | .219 .216 .225 | .110 .406 .604 | .969 1.25 1.49 |
| 2+ adults in household | .052 | .131 | -.205 | .308 |
| Girl | -.262* | .132 | -.521 | -.004 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Table 16.2 shows the model results for changes in mental health for those who experienced bereavement at some point across the four sweeps. The results indicate that those who experienced the loss of a grandparent or of a parent or sibling were more likely to experience either a deterioration or an improvement in mental health compared with mental health remaining the same across the four waves. However, the only statistically significant result was for those who lost a parent or sibling being more likely to experience a deterioration in mental health.
Number of Observations = 3308
| SDQ Score Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Loss of a grandparent | .086 | .127 | -.163 | .335 |
| Loss of a parent or sibling | .682* | .279 | .135 | 1.23 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.559* | .153 | -.859 | -.260 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | -.118 .202 .609* | .216 .211 .214 | -.541 -.211 .190 | .306 .615 1.03 |
| 2+ adults in household | .034 | .137 | -.234 | .303 |
| Girl | .260* | .137 | -.009 | .529 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Loss of a grandparent | .007 | .120 | -.227 | .242 |
| Loss of a parent or sibling | .280 | .317 | -.342 | .902 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.478* | .138 | -.749 | -.207 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .558* .859* 1.07* | .213 .210 .219 | .140 .447 .639 | .976 1.27 1.49 |
| 2+ adults in household | .058 | .128 | -.192 | .308 |
| Girl | -.258* | .128 | -.509 | -.006 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Table 16.3 shows the model results for changes in mental health for those who experienced an accident or illness within the family at some point across the four sweeps. The results indicate that those who experienced this life event were statistically significantly more likely to experience either a deterioration or an improvement in mental health compared with mental health remaining the same across the four waves.
Number of Observations = 3308
| SDQ Score Change | Coefficient Value | Standard Error | Confidence Interval (95%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deteriorates | ||||
| Family accident or illness | .448* | .156 | .143 | .754 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.565* | .163 | -.884 | -.246 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | -.140 .180 .604* | .231 .225 .228 | -.593 -.262 .157 | .312 .621 1.05 |
| 2+ adults in household | .023 | .147 | -.264 | .311 |
| Girl | .270* | .146 | .143 | .754 |
| Remains constant (base outcome) | ||||
| Improves | ||||
| Family accident or illness | .348* | .150 | .053 | .642 |
| Household income £29k+ | -.472* | .147 | -.761 | -.183 |
| Household education - degree - higher - standard grade | .540* .841* 1.06* | .231 .224 .234 | .093 .401 .598 | .986 1.28 1.51 |
| 2+ adults in household | .045 | .137 | -.222 | .313 |
| Girl | -.259* | .137 | -.527 | .010 |
* indicates statistical significance (<0.05)
Across the models, those who had a household income of £29,000 per year and above were more likely to experience no change in their mental health as can be seen from the negative values for both mental health improving and deteriorating. Additionally, girls were more likely than boys to experience a deterioration in mental health and less likely to experience an improvement.
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