The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) is an annual household survey. Since 2004, this survey has been the official source of household income and poverty statistics in Ireland.
Modules are carried out as part of SILC each year to complement the variables permanently collected in the survey. The theme of the 2013 SILC module was ‘well-being’ and this module was repeated in the 2018 SILC. This publication focuses on personal well-being indicators and compares 2018 results with 2013.
Respondents were asked to rate their satisfaction levels with various aspects of their lives (such as their overall life satisfaction and satisfaction with the financial situation of their households) on a scale from 0 (‘Not at all satisfied’) to 10 (‘Completely satisfied’). The mean score for each satisfaction level indicator was calculated by adding individual scores and dividing the total by the number of individuals.
Furthermore, respondents were asked about their ability to access material and non-material help from other people. Access to material help refers to the ability to get or borrow money or items from other people. Non-material help refers to having someone to discuss matters with or getting help with doing something.
Finally, respondents were asked how often, in the four-week period preceding their interview, they felt ‘happy’, ‘calm and peaceful’, ‘down in the dumps, ‘very nervous’, ‘downhearted' or depressed' and 'lonely’. The responses were given on a 5-point scale, with answers ranging from ‘none of the time’ to ‘all of the time’.
Due to a processing error, the 2013 and 2018 values for the Low, Medium and High satisfaction indicators were incorrectly reported. Figure 3.9, Table 2.1, and related text have been corrected as of 11.00am on 13/10/21. |
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