Social capital and community wellbeing in Scotland

This report provides information about the extent and nature of social connections and social capital in Scotland from 2018/2019 - 2022. It draws on a range of data, from both the Scottish Household Survey and qualitative research, to explore social capital in Scotland.


Annex B: Further tables showing changes between 2018 / 2019 and 2022 scores for every social capital measure by demographic group

Percentages in the following tables have been rounded to the nearest whole number. As a result of this calculated changes may be out compared to the difference between the stated table percentages.

Table 1: Percentage point change in agreement with the 18 statements within the Social Capital Index, by each of the four themes of Social Networks, Community Cohesion, Social Participation and Community Empowerment by Deprivation (SIMD Quintile 1 and 2), 2018 / 2019 - 2022

*Green = Significant positive change Red = Significant negative change

Quintile 1 - 20% most deprived Quintile 2
2018*/19 2022 % point change 2018*/19 2022 % point change
Social Networks Could you rely on a neighbour for help? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 80% 81% 1 84% 86% 3 (Green)
Would neighbours keep an eye on your home? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 78% 81% 3 84% 86% 3
Could you turn to neighbours for advice? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 73% 74% 1 77% 80% 3 (Green)
Would you help your neighbours? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 85% 86% 1 88% 90% 2
How often do you meet others socially? ('At least once a week')* 72% 69% -3 73% 66% -7 (Red)
Have you felt lonely in the last week? ('Some', 'most', 'all or almost all' of the time)* 28% 30% 1 24% 27% 3
Community Cohesion How good is your neighbourhood as a place to live? (‘Very good’ + ‘fairly good’) 85% 86% 1 92% 93% 1
How strongly do you feel you belong to your neighbourhood? (‘Very strongly’ + ‘fairly strongly) 70% 75% 5 (Green) 75% 81% 6 (Green)
How safe do you feel walking alone in your neighbourhood after dark? (‘Very safe’ + ‘fairly safe’) 70% 68% -2 79% 76% -2
Can most people be trusted in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 60% 64% 5 (Green) 74% 79% 5 (Green)
Are people kind to each other in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 71% 76% 5 (Green) 80% 86% 6 (Green)
Do people from different backgrounds get on well? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 57% 69% 11 (Green) 67% 70% 3
Are there places to meet and socialise? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 48% 48% -1 56% 52% -3
Are there welcoming places to meet new people? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 43% 43% 0 50% 47% -3
Social Participation Have you volunteered formally in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) 16% 14% -3 (Red) 22% 18% -4 (Red)
Have you done any volunteering (formal or informal) in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) * 41% 37% -4 46% 42% -4
Community Empowerment Can you influence local decisions? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 16% 14% -2 15% 18% 2
Do people take action improve the neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 41% 43% 2 50% 57% 7 (Green)
Table 2: Percentage point change in agreement with the 18 statements within the Social Capital Index, by each of the four themes of Social Networks, Community Cohesion, Social Participation and Community Empowerment by Deprivation (SIMD Quintile 3 and 4), 2018 / 2019 - 2022

*Green = Significant positive change Red = Significant negative change

Quintile 3 Quintile 4
2018*/19 2022 % point change 2018*/19 2022 % point change
Social Networks Could you rely on a neighbour for help? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 87% 88% 1 87% 88% 1
Would neighbours keep an eye on your home? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 86% 89% 3 (Green) 87% 87% 0
Could you turn to neighbours for advice? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 80% 82% 2 80% 82% 2
Would you help your neighbours? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 90% 89% 0 91% 93% 1
How often do you meet others socially? ('At least once a week')* 71% 66% -6 (Red) 72% 73% 1
Have you felt lonely in the last week? ('Some', 'most', 'all or almost all' of the time)* 22% 25% 3 18% 19% 1
Community Cohesion How good is your neighbourhood as a place to live? (‘Very good’ + ‘fairly good’) 97% 97% 0 98% 98% 0
How strongly do you feel you belong to your neighbourhood? (‘Very strongly’ + ‘fairly strongly) 82% 85% 3 (Green) 80% 83% 3
How safe do you feel walking alone in your neighbourhood after dark? (‘Very safe’ + ‘fairly safe’) 84% 85% 1 89% 86% -3 (Red)
Can most people be trusted in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 83% 84% 1 86% 90% 4 (Green)
Are people kind to each other in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 85% 88% 3 (Green) 87% 91% 3 (Green)
Do people from different backgrounds get on well? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 73% 76% 3 73% 75% 2
Are there places to meet and socialise? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 60% 59% 0 59% 60% 1
Are there welcoming places to meet new people? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 54% 53% -1 54% 56% 2
Social Participation Have you volunteered formally in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) 26% 23% -3 (Red) 31% 25% -7 (Red)
Have you done any volunteering (formal or informal) in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) * 48% 48% 0 51% 48% -4 (Red)
Community Empowerment Can you influence local decisions? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 18% 17% -1 20% 20% 0
Do people take action improve the neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 61% 68% 7 (Green) 64% 70% 6 (Green)
Table 3: Percentage point change in agreement with the 18 statements within the Social Capital Index, by each of the four themes of Social Networks, Community Cohesion, Social Participation and Community Empowerment by Deprivation (SIMD Quintile 5), 2018 / 2019 - 2022

*Green = Significant positive change Red = Significant negative change

Quintile 5 - Least deprived 20%
2018*/19 2022 % point change
Social Networks Could you rely on a neighbour for help? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 89% 90% 1
Would neighbours keep an eye on your home? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 89% 90% 2
Could you turn to neighbours for advice? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 83% 84% 1
Would you help your neighbours? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 94% 95% 1
How often do you meet others socially? ('At least once a week')* 74% 73% -2
Have you felt lonely in the last week? ('Some', 'most', 'all or almost all' of the time)* 15% 16% 1
Community Cohesion How good is your neighbourhood as a place to live? (‘Very good’ + ‘fairly good’) 99% 99% 0
How strongly do you feel you belong to your neighbourhood? (‘Very strongly’ + ‘fairly strongly) 81% 88% 6 (Green)
How safe do you feel walking alone in your neighbourhood after dark? (‘Very safe’ + ‘fairly safe’) 93% 89% -4 (Red)
Can most people be trusted in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 90% 91% 2
Are people kind to each other in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 90% 92% 2
Do people from different backgrounds get on well? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 76% 79% 3 (Green)
Are there places to meet and socialise? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 63% 66% 4
Are there welcoming places to meet new people? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 57% 64% 6 (Green)
Social Participation Have you volunteered formally in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) 33% 27% -6 (Red)
Have you done any volunteering (formal or informal) in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) * 53% 51% -2
Community Empowerment Can you influence local decisions? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 19% 19% 0
Do people take action improve the neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 69% 76% 7 (Green)
Table 4: Percentage point change in agreement with the 18 statements within the Social Capital Index, by each of the four themes of Social Networks, Community Cohesion, Social Participation and Community Empowerment by Disability, 2018 / 2019 - 2022

*Green = Significant positive change Red = Significant negative change

Disabled People Non Disabled People
2018/19 2022 % point change 2018/19 2022 % point change
Social networks Could you rely on a neighbour for help? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 84% 84% 1 86% 88% 2 (Green)
Would neighbours keep an eye on your home? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 83% 84% 1 85% 88% 2 (Green)
Could you turn to neighbours for advice? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 75% 76% 2 80% 82% 3 (Green)
Would you help your neighbours? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 82% 84% 2 92% 93% 1
How often do you meet others socially? ('At least once a week')* 68% 63% -5 (Red) 74% 71% -3 (Red)
Have you felt lonely in the last week? ('Some', 'most', 'all or almost all' of the time)* 39% 40% 1 16% 17% 1
Community cohesion How good is your neighbourhood as a place to live? (‘Very good’ + ‘fairly good’) 92% 91% 0 95% 96% 1 (Green)
How strongly do you feel you belong to your neighbourhood? (‘Very strongly’ + ‘fairly strongly) 77% 79% 3 (Green) 78% 84% 5 (Green)
How safe do you feel walking alone in your neighbourhood after dark? (‘Very safe’ + ‘fairly safe’) 67% 66% -1 88% 87% -2 (Red)
Can most people be trusted in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 74% 75% 1 80% 85% 5 (Green)
Are people kind to each other in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 78% 82% 5 (Green) 84% 88% 4 (Green)
Do people from different backgrounds get on well? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 64% 69% 5 (Green) 71% 76% 4 (Green)
Are there places to meet and socialise? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 51% 52% 0 59% 59% 0
Are there welcoming places to meet new people? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 45% 47% 2 54% 55% 1
Social participation Have you volunteered formally in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) 20% 17% -2 (Red) 28% 23% -5 (Red)
Have you done any volunteering (formal or informal) in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) * 42% 43% 1 50% 46% -3 (Red)
Community empowerment Can you influence local decisions? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 16% 15% -1 18% 19% 1
Do people take action improve the neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 52% 57% 5 (Green) 59% 66% 7 (Green)
Table 5: Percentage point change in agreement with the 18 statements within the Social Capital Index, by each of the four themes of Social Networks, Community Cohesion, Social Participation and Community Empowerment by Age (16-34), 2018 / 2019 - 2022

*Green = Significant positive change Red = Significant negative

16 - 24 25 - 34
2018/19 2022 % point change 2018/19 2022 % point change
Social networks Could you rely on a neighbour for help? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 81% 81% 1 79% 81% 3
Would neighbours keep an eye on your home? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 76% 81% 5 77% 80% 2
Could you turn to neighbours for advice? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 74% 74% -1 71% 76% 5 (Green)
Would you help your neighbours? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 87% 87% 0 90% 91% 1
How often do you meet others socially? ('At least once a week')* 86% 82% -4 74% 68% -6 (Red)
Have you felt lonely in the last week? ('Some', 'most', 'all or almost all' of the time)* 24% 25% 1 24% 23% -1
Community cohesion How good is your neighbourhood as a place to live? (‘Very good’ + ‘fairly good’) 91% 93% 2 93% 94% 1
How strongly do you feel you belong to your neighbourhood? (‘Very strongly’ + ‘fairly strongly) 71% 80% 9 (Green) 68% 75% 7 (Green)
How safe do you feel walking alone in your neighbourhood after dark? (‘very safe’ + ‘fairly safe’) 83% 82% -1 86% 85% -1
Can most people be trusted in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 68% 75% 8 (Green) 70% 77% 7 (Green)
Are people kind to each other in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 77% 86% 9 (Green) 78% 83% 5 (Green)
Do people from different backgrounds get on well? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 64% 73% 10 (Green) 65% 73% 8 (Green)
Are there places to meet and socialise? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 56% 60% 5 57% 55% -2
Are there welcoming places to meet new people? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 47% 54% 7 (Green) 52% 49% -3
Social participation Have you volunteered formally in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) 26% 20% -6 24% 19% -4 (Red)
Have you done any volunteering (formal or informal) in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) * 47% 41% -7 45% 44% -1
Community empowerment Can you influence local decisions? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 18% 19% 1 17% 15% -2
Do people take action improve the neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 44% 59% 14 (Green) 51% 57% 6 (Green)
Table 6: Percentage point change in agreement with the 18 statements within the Social Capital Index, by each of the four themes of Social Networks, Community Cohesion, Social Participation and Community Empowerment by Age (35-59), 2018 / 2019 - 2022

*Green = Significant positive change Red = Significant negative

35-44 45-59
2018/19 2022 % point change 2018/19 2022 % point change
Social networks Could you rely on a neighbour for help? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 83% 84% 2 88% 88% 0
Would neighbours keep an eye on your home? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 83% 84% 2 88% 89% 1
Could you turn to neighbours for advice? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 76% 78% 2 80% 83% 3 (Green)
Would you help your neighbours? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 91% 92% 1 92% 93% 1
How often do you meet others socially? ('At least once a week')* 65% 66% 1 66% 62% -3 (Green)
Have you felt lonely in the last week? ('Some', 'most', 'all or almost all' of the time)* 19% 22% 2 21% 21% 0
Community cohesion How good is your neighbourhood as a place to live? (‘Very good’ + ‘fairly good’) 93% 94% 1 94% 95% 1
How strongly do you feel you belong to your neighbourhood? (‘Very strongly’ + ‘fairly strongly) 75% 80% 5 (Green) 80% 84% 3 (Green)
How safe do you feel walking alone in your neighbourhood after dark? (‘very safe’ + ‘fairly safe’) 89% 86% -2 85% 85% -1
Can most people be trusted in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 76% 79% 2 81% 84% 3 (Green)
Are people kind to each other in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 83% 85% 2 84% 87% 3 (Green)
Do people from different backgrounds get on well? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 69% 72% 4 71% 74% 3 (Green)
Are there places to meet and socialise? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 55% 57% 2 57% 59% 1
Are there welcoming places to meet new people? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 54% 53% -2 50% 54% 3
Social participation Have you volunteered formally in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) 30% 24% -5 (Red) 28% 23% -6 (Red)
Have you done any volunteering (formal or informal) in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) * 56% 47% -8 (Red) 50% 50% 0
Community empowerment Can you influence local decisions? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 16% 18% 1 20% 20% 0
Do people take action improve the neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 58% 62% 4 61% 67% 7 (Green)
Table 7: Percentage point change in agreement with the 18 statements within the Social Capital Index, by each of the four themes of Social Networks, Community Cohesion, Social Participation and Community Empowerment by Age (59-75+), 2018 / 2019 - 2022

*Green = Significant positive change Red = Significant negative

60-74 75+
2018/19 2022 % point change 2018/19 2022 % point change
Social networks Could you rely on a neighbour for help? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 90% 92% 2 92% 93% 0
Would neighbours keep an eye on your home? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 90% 92% 2 (Green) 92% 93% 0
Could you turn to neighbours for advice? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 83% 84% 1 87% 86% 0
Would you help your neighbours? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 92% 93% 1 80% 84% 4 (Green)
How often do you meet others socially? ('At least once a week')* 75% 72% -3 (Red) 77% 73% -4 (Red)
Have you felt lonely in the last week? ('Some', 'most', 'all or almost all' of the time)* 18% 22% 4 (Red) 25% 29% 4
Community cohesion How good is your neighbourhood as a place to live? (‘Very good’ + ‘fairly good’) 96% 96% 0 97% 97% 0
How strongly do you feel you belong to your neighbourhood? (‘Very strongly’ + ‘fairly strongly) 85% 87% 2 88% 90% 2
How safe do you feel walking alone in your neighbourhood after dark? (‘very safe’ + ‘fairly safe’) 82% 79% -3 (Red) 64% 63% -1
Can most people be trusted in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 87% 88% 1 88% 90% 2
Are people kind to each other in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 87% 90% 3 (Green) 87% 89% 2
Do people from different backgrounds get on well? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 74% 77% 3 70% 72% 2
Are there places to meet and socialise? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 57% 57% 0 61% 57% -4
Are there welcoming places to meet new people? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 52% 53% 2 55% 55% 0
Social participation Have you volunteered formally in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) 25% 23% -2 20% 16% -3 (Red)
Have you done any volunteering (formal or informal) in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) * 50% 48% -1 34% 34% 0
Community empowerment Can you influence local decisions? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 17% 18% 1 18% 17% -1
Do people take action improve the neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 64% 67% 3 (Green) 62% 67% 5 (Green)
Table 8: Percentage point change in agreement with the 18 statements within the Social Capital Index, by each of the four themes of Social Networks, Community Cohesion, Social Participation and Community Empowerment by Sex 2018 / 2019 - 2022

*Green = Significant positive change Red = Significant negative

Male Female
2018/19 2022 % point change 2018/19 2022 % point change
Social networks Could you rely on a neighbour for help? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 84% 85% 1 86% 88% 2 (Green)
Would neighbours keep an eye on your home? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 85% 86% 2 85% 87% 2 (Green)
Could you turn to neighbours for advice? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 77% 79% 2 (Green) 80% 82% 2 (Green)
Would you help your neighbours? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 90% 91% 0 89% 91% 2 (Green)
How often do you meet others socially? ('At least once a week')* 70% 67% -3 (Red) 75% 71% -3 (Red)
Have you felt lonely in the last week? ('Some', 'most', 'all or almost all' of the time)* 19% 22% 3 (Red) 24% 24% 1
Community cohesion How good is your neighbourhood as a place to live? (‘Very good’ + ‘fairly good’) 94% 95% 1 94% 95% 1
How strongly do you feel you belong to your neighbourhood? (‘Very strongly’ + ‘fairly strongly) 76% 81% 5 (Green) 79% 84% 4 (Green)
How safe do you feel walking alone in your neighbourhood after dark? (‘very safe’ + ‘fairly safe’) 91% 92% 1 76% 72% -4 (Red)
Can most people be trusted in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 79% 83% 4 (Green) 78% 81% 3 (Green)
Are people kind to each other in your neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 83% 87% 4 (Green) 83% 86% 4 (Green)
Do people from different backgrounds get on well? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 69% 75% 6 (Green) 69% 73% 4 (Green)
Are there places to meet and socialise? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 57% 59% 2 58% 56% -2
Are there welcoming places to meet new people? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 52% 53% 1 51% 53% 1
Social participation Have you volunteered formally in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) 24% 21% -3 (Red) 28% 22% -6 (Red)
Have you done any volunteering (formal or informal) in the past 12 months? (‘Yes’) * 46% 44% -3 50% 47% -2 (Red)
Community empowerment Can you influence local decisions? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 19% 19% 0 17% 17% 0
Do people take action improve the neighbourhood? (‘Strongly agree’ or ‘tend to agree’) 57% 64% 7 (Green) 58% 63% 5 (Green)

Contact

Email: socialresearch@gov.scot

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