Respondents aged 16 years and above were asked to rate their satisfaction levels with different aspects of their lives on a scale from 0 (‘Not at all satisfied’) to 10 (‘Completely satisfied’). The following well-being indicators were collected:
With the exception of satisfaction with personal relationships, which showed no change between 2013 and 2018, the mean score for each of the well-being indicators listed above increased over this period. The perceived social inclusion well-being indicator was not collected in 2013.
The mean score for overall life satisfaction increased from 7.5 in 2013 to 8.1 in 2018. The largest increase in mean score was for financial satisfaction, which rose from 5.5 to 7.1, followed by trust in others which increased from 6.3 to 7.1. Satisfaction with personal relationships was the highest rated indicator in 2018 with a mean score of 8.6, which was unchanged from 2013. See figure 2.1.
X-axis label | 2013 | 2018 |
---|---|---|
Overall life satisfaction | 7.5 | 8.1 |
Satisfaction with financial situation | 5.5 | 7.1 |
Satisfaction with personal relationships | 8.6 | 8.6 |
Satisfaction with time use | 7 | 7.5 |
Satisfaction with job | 7.2 | 7.8 |
Perceived social inclusion | 7.6 | |
Trust in others | 6.3 | 7.1 |
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 has been corrected as of 11.00am on 13/10/21. |
The responses for the satisfaction level indicators were also grouped as follows: Low (0-5), Medium (6-8) and High (9-10).
In 2018, 44.4% of individuals rated their overall life satisfaction as high, compared to 30.8% in 2013, while the percentage of individuals that reported their overall life satisfaction as low dropped from 15.7% to 8.7% over this period. See table 2.1.
The percentage of individuals rating their satisfaction with their household’s financial situation as high more than doubled from 2013 to 2018, rising from 11.9% to 28.0%, while the percentage with a low rating more than halved over this period, falling from 48.9% to 22.5%.
Individuals were also more satisfied with their jobs in 2018, with 39.0% of people rating their job satisfaction as high, increasing from 28.2% in 2013.
In 2018, just over one in five individuals (20.2%) rated their trust in others as low compared with almost one in three individuals (33.2%) in 2013.
In 2018, 33.6% of individuals reported their perceived social inclusion (the respondent’s perception of feeling included in society) as high and 16.1% as low.
Table 2.1 Percentage satisfaction indicator at State level, 2013 and 2018 | ||||||||
Satisfaction level % | ||||||||
Low | Medium | High | ||||||
Indicator | 2013 | 2018 | 2013 | 2018 | 2013 | 2018 | ||
Overall life satisfaction | 15.7 | 8.7 | 53.5 | 47.0 | 30.8 | 44.4 | ||
Satisfaction with financial situation | 48.9 | 22.5 | 39.1 | 49.5 | 11.9 | 28.0 | ||
Satisfaction with personal relationships | 5.1 | 5.2 | 35.0 | 34.8 | 59.8 | 60.0 | ||
Satisfaction with time use (i.e. amount of leisure time) | 27.2 | 18.5 | 43.8 | 46.8 | 29.0 | 34.7 | ||
Satisfaction with job | 20.0 | 11.6 | 51.8 | 49.5 | 28.2 | 39.0 | ||
Perceived social inclusion1 | - | 16.1 | - | 50.3 | - | 33.6 | ||
Trust in others | 33.2 | 20.2 | 54.3 | 59.3 | 12.6 | 20.5 | ||
1 Only collected in 2018. |
Respondents were asked how often they felt ‘happy’, ‘calm and peaceful’, ‘down in the dumps’, ‘very nervous’, ‘downhearted or depressed’ or 'lonely' in the four weeks prior to interview. The responses were given on a 5-point scale, with answers ranging from ‘none of the time’ to ‘all of the time’.
In 2018, 80.4% of individuals reported being happy either all or most of the time, increasing from 76.9% in 2013. In 2018, almost seven in ten (69.8%) individuals reported feeling calm and peaceful all or most of the time. See figure 2.2.
X-axis label | All of the time | Most of the time | None/a little/some of the time |
---|---|---|---|
Being happy 2013 | 13.9 | 63 | 23 |
Being happy 2018 | 17.6 | 62.8 | 19.6 |
Feeling calm and peaceful 2013 | 12.7 | 54.8 | 32.4 |
Feeling calm and peaceful 2018 | 15.5 | 54.3 | 30.3 |
The percentage of individuals who felt downhearted or depressed at least some of the time in the four weeks prior to interview was 13.2% in 2018, a decrease from 20.8% in 2013. In 2018, 16.6% of individuals reported that they felt lonely at least some of the time. The 2013 well-being module did not include a question on feeling lonely. See figure 2.3.
X-axis label | Some/most/all of the time | A little of the time | None of the time |
---|---|---|---|
Being very nervous 2013 | 21.1 | 23.4 | 55.5 |
Being very nervous 2018 | 18.4 | 20 | 61.6 |
Feeling down in the dumps 2013 | 22.8 | 23.2 | 54.1 |
Feeling down in the dumps 2018 | 16.9 | 28.2 | 55 |
Feeling downhearted or depressed 2013 | 20.8 | 26.2 | 53 |
Feeling downhearted or depressed 2018 | 13.2 | 23.4 | 63.4 |
Feeling lonely 2018 | 16.6 | 19.9 | 63.5 |
Respondents were asked about their ability to access material and non-material help from other people. These questions related to the possibility of receiving such help, not whether the help was actually needed.
Access to material help refers to the ability to get or borrow money or items from other people. Non-material help relates to having someone to discuss matters with or getting help with doing something.
In 2018, 13.6% of individuals felt they would be unable to receive material help if they needed it, while 5.2% felt they would be unable to receive non-material help. See figures 2.4(a) & (b).
Material help | |
Access | 86.4 |
No access | 13.6 |
Non-material help | |
Access | 94.8 |
No access | 5.2 |
Go to next chapter >>> Well-being indicators by demographic