Unlocking Potential project Advisory Group Meeting Research project The impact of formal volunteering on the health and well-being of older people in Northern Ireland. Presentation of Timepoint 1 findings Dr. John Mallett & Prof. Maurice Stringer University of Ulster

Overview 1.Overview of some of the health related scales 2.Description of baseline sample Local Government District EUROSTAT NUTS (Level 3) Old Health & Social Care areas Demographics (Age, gender, income) 3. Organisational classification 4. Main activities carried out within organisations 5. Reported health Diagnosed medical conditions. Satisfaction with health Activity levels / disability 6.Correlates of well-being scales (age, gender, living circumstances, income etc..). 7. Summary

1. Overview of some of the health related scales - (WHOQOL)-BREF - General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). - Diagnosed medical conditions -Lubben Social Support Scale - Experiences and Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (EAAQ)

Table 1 QUALITY OF LIFE THE (WHOQOL) -BREF Domain 1.Physical health Activities of daily living Dependence on medicines and medical aids Energy & fatigue Mobility Pain and discomfort Sleep & rest Work capacity 2. Psychological Bodily image and appearance Negative feelings Positive feelings Self-esteem Thinking, learning, memory, concentration Spirituality, religion, meaning in life 3. Environment Financial resources Freedom, physical safety and security Health & Social care: accessibility & quality Home environment Opportunities for acquiring new information & skills Participation in and opportunities for recreation/ leisure activities Healthy Physical environment Transport 4. Social Relationships * Personal relationships Social Support Sexual activity

The Lubben Social Network Scale Can be used to assess the level of social support available to an individual Measures: 10 questions (1) family networks: 3 questions (2) friends networks: 3 questions (3) confidant relationships: 2 questions (4) helping others: 1 two part question (5) living arrangements: 1 question This study used used parts 1 and 2 only

Reported medical conditions as diagnosed by a doctor or consultant Individuals tick ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to each of the following 1.High blood pressure 2.Diabetes or high blood sugar 3.Cancer or malignant tumor 4.Chronic lung disease 5.Heart attack or other heart problems 6.Stroke 7.Arthritis or rheumatism These are classified as significant medical problems based on Lumm & Lightfoot, 2005) These questions can be examined individually and / or aggregated to form a total diagnosed physical health score. High scores indicate more health conditions.

EXPERIENCES AND ATTITUDES TO AGEING QUESTIONNAIRE (EAAQ) Q15a-Q15g (1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly agree) Q17a-Q17q (1=not at all true, 5=extremely true). Psychological loss Scale 3. Old age is a time of loneliness. 6. Old age is a depressing time of life. 9. I find it more difficult to talk about my feelings as I get older. 12. I see old age mainly as a time of loss. 15. I am losing my physical independence as I get older. 17. As I get older, I find it more difficult to make new friends. 20. I don’t feel involved in society now that I am older. 22. I feel excluded from things because of my age.

EXPERIENCES AND ATTITUDES TO AGEING QUESTIONNAIRE (EAAQ) Q15a-Q15g (1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly agree) Q17a-Q17q (1=not at all true, 5=extremely true). Physical Change Scale 7. It is important to take exercise at any age. 8. Growing older has been easier than I thought. 11. I don’t feel old. 13. My identity is not defined by my age. 14. I have more energy now than I expected for my age. 16.Problems with my physical health do not hold me back from doing what I want to. 23. My health is better than I expected for my age. 24. I keep myself as fit and active as possible by exercising.

EXPERIENCES AND ATTITUDES TO AGEING QUESTIONNAIRE (EAAQ) Q15a-Q15g (1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly agree) Q17a-Q17q (1=not at all true, 5=extremely true). Psychological Gain 1 As people get older they are better able to cope with life. 2. It is a privilege to grow old. 4. Wisdom comes with age. 5. There are many pleasant things about growing older. 10. I am more accepting of myself as I have grown older. 18.It is very important to pass on the benefits of my experiences to younger people. 19. I believe my life has made a difference. 21. I want to give a good example to younger people.

Table 2 Psychometric scale reliabilities Psychometric Scale Reliability coefficient Cronbach’s alpha Number of items in scale (WHOQOL)-BREF Well being/ Quality of life Physical health.887 Psychological health.796 Envirnonmental.828 Goldberg et al.,GHQ Laidlaw’s Experiences and Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (EAAQ) Psychological loss.778 Psychological gain.688 Physical change.768 LubbenSocial Support Scale.856

2. Description of baseline sample Local Government District EUROSTAT NUTS (Level 3) Old Health & Social Care areas Demographics (Age, gender, income)

Fig 2.1 Survey response rate by Local Government District (LGN)

Fig. 2.2 Survey response rate by Local Government District (LGN)

Sample Response % NameArea Belfast Outer Belfast Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, North Down East Antrim, Ards, Ballymena, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Larne North Ballymoney, Coleraine, Derry, Limavady, Moyle, Strabane West & South Armagh, Cookstown, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Magherafelt, Newry and Mourne, Omagh EurostatEurostat Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) Level 3Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics 21.3% 16.8% 14.8% Table 3

Sample Response % NameArea 42.6% 1. Eastern Ards, Belfast, Castlereagh, Down, Lisburn, North Down 17.9% 2. Northern Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Cookstown, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newtownabbey 20.7% 3. Southern Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Newry and Mourne 9.8.%4. Western Derry, Fermanagh, Limavady, Omagh, Strabane Health and Social Care areas There were four health and social services boards which were replaced by a single Health and Social Care Board in April The former health and social services boards were as follows: 17.9% 9.8% 20.7% 42.6% Table 4

Fig 2.3

Fig 2.4

- 281 respondents (78.9%) were located within Voluntary / Community organisations - 12 respondents (3.4%) were based within faith-based church organisations - 6 respondents (1.7%) were based within statutory organisations respondents (16%) did not provide information on the type of organisation. 3. Organisational classification

3. Main activities carried out within organisations

Main activities carried out by respondents in volunteering organisation Fig. 3.1

Reasons given for becoming involved in volunteering Fig 3.2

4. Reported health -Diagnosed medical conditions. -Satisfaction with health - Activity levels

Fig 4.1

Fig 4.2

Fig 4.3

4. Reported health -Diagnosed medical conditions -Satisfaction with health - Activity levels

Fig 4.4

Fig 4.5

Fig 4.6

4. Reported health -Diagnosed medical conditions -Satisfaction with health - Activity levels

Fig 4.7

Fig 4.8

Fig 4.9

Fig 4.10

Fig 4.11

Reported health -Diagnosed medical conditions -Satisfaction with health - Activity levels

Table 5. Pearson zero-order correlations between Main Health Scales and demographic variables. Number of diagnosed medical conditions WHO Physical health Scale WHO Psychological health Scale WHO Environmental health Scale WHO Quality of Life scale GHQ-12 Age.138** **.146**.176**.054 Gender Household income £ **.170**.284**.226**-.088 Receiving Pension credit.156**-.136* * Have a Disability.343** -.536**-.272**-.366**-.505**.038 Caring responsibilities Living alone Retired * Schooling-.132*.198** **.156**-.044

Table 6. Pearson zero-order correlations between Main Health Scales and demographic variables. Demographics EAAQ Psychological Loss Scale EAAQ Physical Change Scale EAAQ Psychological Gain Scale Lubben Social Support scale Age ** ** Gender Weekly Household income £ -.254** Receiving Pension credit *.132* Have a Disability.252**-.302** * Caring responsibilities * Living alone.166** Retired Schooling-.135*

Table 7. Number of experienced volunteers by local government area and age. AGE IN 10 YEAR BLOCKS Total YEARS60-69 YEARS70-79 YEARS80-90 YEARS 1.00 ANTRIM ARDS ARMAGH BALLYMENA BALLYMONEY BANBRIDGE BELFAST CARRICKFERGUS COLERAINE COOKSTOWN CRAIGAVON DERRY DOWN DUNGANNON & SOUTH TYRONE FERMANAGH LARNE LIMAVADY LISBURN MAGHERAFELT MOYLE NEWRY & MOURNE NEWTOWNABBEY NORTH DOWN OMAGH STRABANE03003 TOTALS

AGE IN 10 YEAR BLOCKSTotals YEARS YEARS70-79 YEARS80-90 YEARS 1.00 ANTRIM ARDS ARMAGH BALLYMONEY BANBRIDGE BELFAST CARRICKFERGUS CASTLEREAGH COLERAINE COOKSTOWN CRAIGAVON DERRY DOWN DUNGANNON & SOUTH TYRONE FERMANAGH LIMAVADY LISBURN MAGHERAFELT NEWRY & MOURNE NEWTOWNABBEY NORTH DOWN OMAGH STRABANE02002 TOTALS Table 8. Number of new volunteers by local government area and age.

Summary - The sample covers all local government districts in N. Ireland with expected higher representation from urban areas. - There were proportionately more females (60%). -The sample was well represented in terms of age spread with the majority of respondents aged between The sample contained a good mix of new and existing volunteers -One quarter of the sample did not answer the question on income. -Of those who answered the income question the income distribution was widely spread with a smaller but significant number of higher household incomes reported. - This was mirrored by a diverse range of educational backgrounds.

Summary- Health A largely healthy sample with some age related differencesin health and attitudes recorded. Positive attitudes to health were expressed by the majority of respondents. The most commonly reported medical conditions were high blood pressure (33%)and arthritis/ rheumatism (30%) with much lower numbers reporting other significant medical conditions (Heart 12%, Diabetes (8%), Stroke (2.8%), Cancer 2.5%, lung disease (3.4%). Activity levels were high among the majority of volunteers Psychological scales performed largely as expected in relation to demographic differences. Questions?...