Social wellbeing of selected demographic groups

Social wellbeing outcomes at different ages

Under 15 years

Only a small number of indicators contained information about those under 15 years.

When compared with the other age groups, the under 15 year age group had the lowest rate of obesity in 2013/2014 and deaths in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2010–2014.

However, the 0–17 year age group had the highest proportion of people living in households facing material hardship.

In the cultural identity area, the under 15 year age group had the lowest rates of being able to converse in Māori or the first language of their ethnic group (other than Māori or European) in 2013.

They also had the lowest rates of telephone and internet access in their households compared with the other age groups in 2013.

15–24 yearsTop

This age group was more likely to undertake risky behaviours when compared with the older age groups. Those aged 15–24 years had the highest rate of potentially hazardous drinking in 2013/2014 compared with other age groups. They had the second highest rate of dying in a motor vehicle traffic crash in 2010–2014. They also had the highest suicide rate between 1972 and 2012, and the joint highest psychological distress rate in 2013/2014. However, this age group had a lower rate of obesity in 2013/2014 compared with the older age groups, though the rate was still higher than the under 15 year age group.

The 15–24 year age group is when people were more likely to be in education or training.

This age group was also more likely than other age groups to be unemployed (highest rate in 2014). In 2013/2014, it also had one of the highest rates of people living in low-income households, households facing material hardship or crowded housing, or households where more than 30 percent of disposable income was spent on housing costs.

While those aged 15–24 years had the highest rate of reported discrimination and the lowest level of trust in others compared with other age groups in 2014, they were most likely to feel comfortable having new neighbours from selected minority groups. Young people (ie 18–24 years) were less likely to vote in the 2011 General Election when compared with older people.

In terms of leisure and recreation, this age group had the second highest proportion of people who were satisfied with their leisure time in 2012 and the highest rate of people participating in arts and cultural events in 2014: this is perhaps because they were less likely to have caring and other responsibilities.

25–54 yearsTop

In the health area, those aged 45–54 years had the joint highest rate of psychological distress, and the second highest rate of potentially hazardous drinking in 2013/2014. Those aged 25–44 years had the second highest suicide rate in 2012 compared with the other age groups. They also had one of the highest rates of obesity (particularly those aged 45–54 years) and smoking (especially the 25–34 year age group). However, those aged 25–34 years had the highest rate of physical activity.

Being in the prime of their working lives, this group’s employment rates and medium hourly earnings in 2014 were high. However, job satisfaction was the lowest for the 25–34 year age group in 2014, while satisfaction with work-life balance was lowest in 2012 for the 35–54 year age group, which was likely owing to their work and family responsibilities.

There was a mixed picture in the safety area. The 25–34 year age group had the highest rate of reported crime in 2012. However, they were less likely in 2014 to feel unsafe walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark compared with other age groups.

Compared with other age groups, those aged 35–54 years were more likely to volunteer in 2014, while those aged 30–39 years were more likely to attend arts and cultural events. However, those in 35–44 year age group were least likely to be satisfied with their leisure time in 2012. People in this age group were also more likely to be dissatisfied with the amount of contact with their family and friends in 2014, again likely because of their limited free time.

55 years and overTop

Those aged 55 years and over were least likely to undertake in risky behaviours such as smoking and potentially hazardous drinking in 2013/2014 compared with the younger age groups. They had the lowest rates of suicide in 2012 (particularly those aged 65 years and over) and psychological distress in 2013/2014. However, they had some of the highest rates of obesity (with 55–64 years having the highest rate) and the lowest rate of physical activity for those aged 75 years and over in 2013/2014 – this may be to do with mobility. The 75 years and over age group also had the highest rate of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2010–14.

Moving towards retirement, those in the 55–64 year age group were least likely to be unemployed in 2014 but the 65–74 year age group had the lowest rates of employment. In 2014, they had the highest job satisfaction and satisfaction with work-life balance (particularly those aged 65 years and over). Those 65 years and over, however, had the highest rates of work-related injuries in 2014.

This group was more likely to be financially secure. In 2014, those aged 65 years and over were least likely to live in low-income households – this is due to the relatively high rate of mortgage-free home ownership and universal public provision retirement support. They were also least likely to live in households facing material hardship in 2013–2014, live in crowded housing in 2013, or live in households where more than 30 percent of disposable income was spent on housing costs in 2014.

Those aged 65 years and over were most likely of all age groups to vote in the 2011 General Election. In 2013, older people had the highest rates of conversing in Māori and the first language of their ethnic group. This age group was more likely than other age groups to believe it was easy to be themselves in New Zealand in 2014.

Those aged 65 years and over were most likely to be satisfied with their free time in 2012. They had the lowest rate of participation in arts and cultural events between 2005 and 2014.

In the safety area, while they were least likely to report being victims of crime between 2008 and 2014 or being discriminated against in 2014, those in the older group were also least likely of all age groups to feel safe walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark.

In 2014, those aged 65–74 years were least likely of all the age groups to feel lonely, and those 65 year and over were most likely to feel that their amount of contact with family and friends was about right in 2008–2012. However, loneliness increased for those aged 75 years and over. Their level of internet access was lower than other age groups in 2013. In 2014, they were most likely to believe most people can be trusted.

In 2014, those aged 65 years and over had the highest overall life satisfaction of all age groups.

Data for this section can be found at: www.socialreport.msd.govt.nz/documents/2016/ds.xlsx​