Coverage: Northern Ireland Frequency: Annual Publication
Date: 27 March 2025
Main Story
Across a range of measures of personal wellbeing: life satisfaction,
self-efficacy, locus of control and loneliness, analysis shows higher
personal wellbeing among adults who engaged in culture, arts, heritage
and sport than among adults who had not engaged in these activities.
Whilst this report shows a link between engagement and personal
wellbeing it does not show that one causes the other. For example,
previous analyses have shown that individuals’ poor health is a key
barrier to their full participation in culture, arts and sporting
activities.
Introduction
This report presents the findings from the 2023/24 Continuous Household
Survey (CHS) in relation to wellbeing and engagement with culture, arts,
heritage and sport in Northern Ireland and also wellbeing and
volunteering. In addition, the report presents an analysis of the
relationship of loneliness and general health to engagement with
culture, arts, heritage and sport and volunteering.
Note: Data collection for the 2023/24 CHS was carried out using a
mix of telephone and face-to-face interviewing modes, a similar approach
to that used in 2022/23. For 2020/21 and 2021/22 data collection was by
telephone interviewing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There
was also a reduction in the number of questions between 2020/21-2022/23.
As a result, the figures from 2020/21 onwards are not directly
comparable to previous years due to the significant changes to the
survey in terms of methodology and content. More information is
available on the
NISRA
website.
More information relating to the CHS, methodology, definitions,
wellbeing questions and the interpretation of figures can be found in
the definitions and technical notes section. The questions that were
asked in the CHS 2023/24 relating to culture, arts, heritage, sport and
volunteering are available on the
DfC
webpage. Data tables are available in
Excel
and
ODS
format.
Life satisfaction
Life satisfaction relates to an individual’s satisfaction with their
life overall. Respondents were asked: ‘Overall, how satisfied are you
with life nowadays?’ and asked to give their response on a scale of 0 to
10, where 0 is ‘not at all satisfied’ and 10 is ‘completely satisfied’.
Higher scores on the life satisfaction scale represent a greater sense
of contentment with life. Life satisfaction, is one of four measures
currently being used by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to
explore and measure national wellbeing1.
In 2023/24, the estimated mean life satisfaction score for adults in
Northern Ireland was 7.8. For adults engaging in culture, arts, heritage
and sport the estimated mean score was 7.9 which was higher than for
those not engaging (7.0). Higher average life satisfaction scores were
found for those who engaged in the arts, visited a museum or science
centre, visited a place of historic interest, used the public library
service or participated in sport in comparison with those who did not
engage in these activities. A higher average life satisfaction score was
also found for those who volunteered in comparison with those who did
not. No statistically significant difference was found for those who
used Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) services compared
with those who did not.
Life Satisfaction trends
In 2023/24, the estimated mean life satisfaction score for adults
engaged in culture, arts and sport was 7.9, this is higher than the mean
score of 7.7 in 2022/23. For adults not engaged in culture, arts and
sport, the mean life satisfaction score remained the same between
2022/23 and 2023/24 (both 7.1).
Note: The results from the 2020/21-2023/24 are not directly
comparable to previous years due to the significant changes to the
survey in terms of methodology and content. While comparisons can be
made between 2021/22 - 2023/24, it is important to note that engagement
in 2021/22 would have been impacted by closures due to COVID-19. Figures
for heritage (visiting a place of historic interest) can only be
combined with culture, arts and sport from 2021/22 onwards and are
therefore not presented in this chart.
Self-efficacy
Self-efficacy is the extent or strength of an individual’s belief in
their own ability to complete tasks and reach goals. Those with high
self-efficacy have confidence in their abilities and make sustained
efforts to achieve goals. Those with low self-efficacy often doubt their
capabilities, are less ambitious and give up on aims when challenged.
This can limit the choices a person makes and how much effort they are
willing to invest. Self-efficacy affects the decisions a person makes
and what they see as achievable and has been shown to influence physical
and mental health, learning and achievement, career and job satisfaction
and family relations.
Self-efficacy is measured using five statements (see Definitions & technical
notes) to which an individual indicates how much they agree or
disagree on a five point Likert scale. It is presented as an overall
score which is the sum total of the 5 statement questions, with a
maximum of 25 and a minimum of 5. Higher scores indicate a higher level
of self-efficacy.
In 2023/24, the estimated mean self-efficacy score for adults in
Northern Ireland was 19.5. For adults engaging in culture, arts,
heritage and sport the estimated mean score was 19.7, which was higher
than for those not engaging (18.0). Higher average self-efficacy scores
were found for those who engaged in the arts, visited a museum or
science centre, visited a place of historic interest, participated in
sport or used PRONI services in comparison with those who did not engage
in these activities. A higher average self-efficacy score was also found
for those who volunteered in comparison with those who did not. No
statistically significant difference was found for those who used the
public library service compared with those who did not.
Low self-efficacy refers to self-efficacy scores ranging from 5 to 17.
In 2023/24, 19% of all adults in Northern Ireland had low self-efficacy.
For adults who engaged in culture, arts, heritage and sport,17% had low
self-efficacy, a lower proportion than among those who did not engage
(34%). Lower proportions of adults who engaged in the arts, visited a
museum or science centre, visited a place of historic interest, used
PRONI services or participated in sport over the previous 12 months had
low self-efficacy in comparison to those who did not engage in these
activities. A lower proportion of adults who volunteered over the
previous 12 months also had low self-efficacy in comparison to those who
did not. In comparison a higher proportion of adults who used the public
library service had low self-efficacy in comparison to those who did
not.
Low self-efficacy trends
In 2023/24, the same proportion of adults who engaged in culture, arts
and sport had low self-efficacy as those who engaged in 2022/23 (both
17%). A similar proportion of those who did not engage had low
self-efficacy in 2023/24 compared to 2022/23 (32% and 31% respectively).
Note: The results from the 2020/21-2023/24 are not directly
comparable to previous years due to the significant changes to the
survey in terms of methodology and content. While comparisons can be
made between 2021/22 - 2023/24, it is important to note that engagement
in 2021/22 would have been impacted by closures due to COVID-19. Figures
for heritage (visiting a place of historic interest) can only be
combined with culture, arts and sport from 2021/22 onwards and are
therefore not presented in this chart.
Locus of control
Locus of control explains the degree to which a person feels in control
over their life. Locus of control is classified as either external or
internal. Those with an internal locus of control believe in their own
influence and control, while those with an external locus of control
believe control over their life is determined by outside factors.
Locus of control is measured using five statements (see Definitions & technical
notes) to which an individual indicates how much they agree or
disagree on a five point Likert scale. It is presented as an overall
score which is the sum total of the 5 statement questions, with a
maximum of 25 and a minimum of 5. The locus of control scale is not a
measurement of higher or lower, rather it is a continuum from external
to internal.
In 2023/24, the estimated mean locus of control score for adults in
Northern Ireland was 17.2. For adults engaging in culture, arts,
heritage and sport the estimated mean score was 17.3, a more internal
locus of control than for those not engaging (16.3). More internal locus
of control scores were found for those who engaged in the arts, visited
a museum or science centre, visited a place of historic interest,
participated in sport or used PRONI services in comparison with those
who did not engage in these activities. A more internal locus of control
score was also found for those who volunteered in comparison with those
who did not. No statistically significant difference was found for those
who used the public library service compared with those who did not.
Locus of control trends
The mean locus of control score for adults who engaged in culture, arts
and sport was similar in 2023/24 compared to 2022/23 (both 17.3).
Similarly, there was no significant difference in locus of control for
adults who did not engage in 2023/24 (16.3%) when compared to 2022/23
(16.2%).
Note: The results from the 2020/21-2023/24 are not directly
comparable to previous years due to the significant changes to the
survey in terms of methodology and content. While comparisons can be
made between 2021/22 - 2023/24, it is important to note that engagement
in 2021/22 would have been impacted by closures due to COVID-19. Figures
for heritage (visiting a place of historic interest) can only be
combined with culture, arts and sport from 2021/22 onwards and are
therefore not presented in this chart.
Loneliness
The Continuous Household Survey includes the following direct measure of
loneliness: ‘How often do you feel lonely?’ with the five response
options ‘often/always’, ‘some of the time’, ‘occasionally’, ‘hardly
ever’ and ‘never’. An analysis of engagement in culture, arts, heritage
and sport and loneliness of adults in Northern Ireland is presented
below. For ease of understanding and interpreting results, the responses
‘often/always’ and ‘some of the time’ were grouped into a single
category called ‘lonely at least some of the time’.
In 2023/24, 17.8% of all adults in Northern Ireland reported feeling
lonely ‘often/always’ or ‘some of the time’ and were therefore described
as ‘lonely at least some of the time’. For adults who engaged in
culture, arts, heritage and sport, 17% reported feeling ‘lonely at least
some of the time’, a lower proportion than among those who did not
engage (28%).
A lower proportion of adults who engaged in the arts, visited a museum
or science centre, visited a place of historic interest or participated
in sport over the previous 12 months, reported feeling ‘lonely at least
some of the time’ in comparison to those who did not. No statistically
significant difference was found for those who used the public library
service or used PRONI services compared with those who did not engage in
these activities. A lower proportion of adults who volunteered over the
previous 12 months reported feeling ‘lonely at least some of the time’
in comparison to those who did not.
Loneliness trends
The proportion of adults engaging in culture, arts and sport who said
they were ‘lonely at least some of time’ was similar in 2023/24 compared
to 2022/23 (17% and 18% respectively). Similarly, there was no
significant difference in loneliness for adults who did not engage in
2023/24 (25%) when compared to 2022/23 (28%).
Note: The results from the 2020/21-2023/24 are not directly
comparable to previous years due to the significant changes to the
survey in terms of methodology and content. While comparisons can be
made between 2021/22 - 2023/24, it is important to note that engagement
in 2021/22 would have been impacted by closures due to COVID-19. Figures
for heritage (visiting a place of historic interest) can only be
combined with culture, arts and sport from 2021/22 onwards and are
therefore not presented in this chart.
General health
The Continuous Household Survey asks the following question in relation
to general health: ‘How is your health in general? Would you say it was
very good, good, fair, bad or very bad?’. An analysis of engagement in
culture, arts, heritage and sport and the general health of adults in
Northern Ireland is presented below.
In 2023/24, 73% of all adults in Northern Ireland rated their health as
‘very good’ or ‘good’. For adults who engaged in culture, arts, heritage
and sport, 77% rated their health as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, a higher
proportion than among those who did not engage (45%).
Greater proportions of adults who engaged in the arts, used the public
library service, visited a museum or science centre, visited a place of
historic interest or participated in sport over the previous 12 months
rated their health as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ in comparison to those who
did not engage in these activities. No statistically significant
difference was found for those who used PRONI services. A greater
proportion of adults who volunteered over the previous 12 months rated
their health as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ in comparison to those who did
not.
General health trends
In 2023/24, 77% of adults engaging in culture, arts and sport reported
having either ‘very good’ or ‘good’ health, this is a increase on the
2022/23 figure of 75%. However, adults not engaging in culture, arts and
sport in 2023/24 had the same proportion reporting ‘very good’ or ‘good’
health compared to 2022/23 (both 48%).
Note: The results from the 2020/21-2023/24 are not directly
comparable to previous years due to the significant changes to the
survey in terms of methodology and content. While comparisons can be
made between 2021/22 - 2023/24, it is important to note that engagement
in 2021/22 would have been impacted by closures due to COVID-19. Figures
for heritage (visiting a place of historic interest) can only be
combined with culture, arts and sport from 2021/22 onwards and are
therefore not presented in this chart.
Data relating to general health and engagement in culture, arts
and sport is not available for 2020/21.
Definitions & technical notes
Continuous Household Survey
The Continuous Household Survey is a Northern Ireland wide household
survey administered by Central Survey Unit, within the Northern Ireland
Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). The sample for this survey
consists of a systematic random sample of 8,940 addresses selected from
the Land and Property Service’s list of private addresses. The findings
reported for 2023/24 are based on 4,927 respondents, aged 16 and over.
Note: Data collection for the 2023/24 CHS was carried out using a mix of
telephone and face-to-face interviewing modes, a similar approach to
that used in 2022/23. For 2020/21 and 2021/22 data collection was by
telephone interviewing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There
was also a reduction in the number of questions between 2020/21-2022/23.
As a result, the figures from 2020/21 onwards are not directly
comparable to previous years due to the significant changes to the
survey in terms of methodology and content. More information is
available on the
NISRA
website.
Weighting the Continuous Household Survey
Analysis of the culture, arts, heritage and sport modules of the CHS
have been weighted for non-response. A chi square goodness-of-fit test
showed that the CHS sample (4,927) was not representative of the
population by age and sex when compared with the 2022 Mid Year Estimates
for Northern Ireland
(NISRA
31 August 2023). As a result, separate weights were produced for
age, sex and age and sex combined.
Non-response weighting sometimes increases standard errors, although the
impact tends to be fairly small, i.e. the adjustment may be less or
greater than 1, but will generally be reasonably close to 1. In the case
of the culture, arts, heritage and sport modules of the CHS, the values
of the adjustment for all three weighting systems are so close to one,
it is not necessary to take account of this in the calculation of
standard error and confidence intervals.
While weighting for non-response (also called post-stratification)
should reduce bias, it must be acknowledged that it will not eliminate
bias. The reasons individuals choose to take part in surveys are complex
and depend on lots of factors specific to the individual. As a result,
the non-response biases in surveys are likely to be complex.
Post-stratification works on the assumption that, by aligning the survey
to the population along a small number of dimensions such as age and
gender, many of these complex biases will reduce. However, it would be
misleading to suggest that they will be eliminated.
Statistical significance in this report
Any statements in this report regarding differences between groups are
statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. This means that
we can be 95% confident that the differences between groups are actual
differences and have not just arisen by chance. The base numbers, sizes
of percentages (relating to low self-efficacy, loneliness and general
health) or variance of scores (relating to wellbeing) have an effect on
statistical significance. Therefore on occasion, a difference between
two groups may be statistically significant while the same difference in
percentage points or mean score between two other groups may not be
statistically significant. The reason for this is because the larger the
base numbers or the closer the percentages are to 0 or 100 or the
smaller the variance in scores, the smaller the standard errors. This
leads to increased precision of the estimates which increases the
likelihood that the difference between the proportions or mean scores is
actually significant and has not just arisen by chance.
Official Statistics
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics
Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and
value in the
Code of
Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics
should adhere to. Contact us directly with any comments about how we
meet these standards -
email:analyticsdivision@communities-ni.gov.uk.
Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing
regulation@statistics.gov.uk
or via the OSR
website.
Engaged in culture, arts, heritage and sport - Have done at least
one of the following in the 12 months prior to the CHS:
Participated in sport
Engaged in the arts
Used the public library service
Visited a museum or science centre
Visited a place of historic interest
Used PRONI services
Engaged in culture, arts and sport - Have done at least one of
the following in the 12 months prior to the CHS:
Participated in sport
Engaged in the arts
Used the public library service
Visited a museum or science centre
Used PRONI services
Arts engagement - Either participated in arts activities or
attended arts events in the 12 months prior to the CHS.
Arts participation - Participated in at least one of the
following arts activities in the 12 months prior to the CHS:
Ballet or any other type of dance (traditional or modern but not keep
fit)
Sang or Played a musical instrument to an audience or rehearsed for a
performance (not karaoke)
Written music/songs (including creating music digitally)
Rehearsed or performed in a play, a drama, or an opera
Painting, drawing, printmaking or sculpture
Took photographs or made films or videos as an artistic activity (not
family or holiday snaps/videos)
Used a computer to create original artworks or animation
Textile crafts such as embroidery, crocheting or knitting
Wood crafts such as wood turning, carving or furniture making
Other crafts such as calligraphy, pottery or jewellery making
Written any stories, plays or poetry
Arts attendance – Attended at least one of the following arts
events in the 12 months prior to the CHS:
Film at cinema or other venue
Exhibition or collection of art, photography or sculpture or crafts
Event connected with books or writing (such as poetry reading or
storytelling)
A circus or carnival
An arts or community festival
A play, drama other theatre performance (such as musical or pantomime)
A live music performance (opera, classical, rock, pop, jazz, folk or
world music)
A live dance performance (ballet, Irish dance performance or other dance
event)
A National Museum - visited any of the following museums in
the past 12 months:
Ulster Museum, Belfast
Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra
Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra
Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh
Local Museum - visited any of the following museums in the
past 12 months:
Andrew Jackson & US Rangers Centre
Ardress House
Armagh County Museum
Armagh Observatory
Armagh Robinson Library
Ballycastle Museum
Ballymoney Museum
Barn Museum
Carrickfergus Museum
Castle Ward
Coleraine Museum
Craigavon Museum Services
Down County Museum
Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway Museum
F E McWilliam Gallery and Studio
Fermanagh County Museum
Flame - The Gasworks Museum of Ireland
Florence Court
Garvagh Museum & Heritage Centre
Green Lane Museum
Hezlett House
Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum
Limavady Museum
Linen Hall Library
Mid Antrim Museum
Milford House
Mount Stewart
Museum at the Mill
Newry & Mourne Museum
North Down Museum
Northern Ireland War Memorial
Police Museum
Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum
Royal Ulster Rifles Museum
Sentry Hill
Somme Museum
Springhill
The Argory
The Inniskillings Museum
Tower Museum
Whitehead Railway Museum
Visited a museum or science centre – Visited a museum or
science centre in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months prior to
CHS:
A National Museum
A Local Museum
W5
Armagh Planetarium
Used the public library service – Used the public library
service at least once in the 12 months prior to the CHS:
Visited a public library or mobile library
Used the Libraries NI website
Attended a library event online or in a venue outside a library
Used PRONI services – Have done one of the following in the 12
months prior to the CHS:
Visited the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
Contacted PRONI by email to request information
Used the PRONI website or engaged with PRONI through social media,
e.g. Facebook, YouTube, Flickr
Attended an online PRONI event, workshop or lecture
Viewed a PRONI exhibition at another public building, e.g. a library,
museum or community centre
Engaged with PRONI in some other way
Heritage – have visited any of these places in the 12 months
prior to the CHS:
A city or town with historic character
A historic building open to the public (non-religious)
A historic park or garden open to the public
A place connected with industrial history or historic transport system
A historic place of worship attended as a visitor (not to worship)
A monument such as a castle, fort or ruin
A site of archaeological interest
A site connected with sports heritage (not visited for the purposes of
watching sport)
Sport participation - Participated in at least one of the
following activities in the 12 months prior to the CHS:
Football (indoors or outdoors)
Gaelic games (football, hurling, camogie)
Racket sports (tennis, badminton, squash)
Basketball or netball
Jogging
Cycling for recreation
Bowls (indoor or outdoor) or tenpin bowling
Swimming or diving
Angling or fishing
Keep fit/aerobics/yoga/dance exercise/weight training
Snooker or pool
Golf or pitch and putt
Other
Volunteering
Volunteering is defined as ‘the commitment of time and energy, for the
benefit of society and the community, the environment, or individuals
out-side (or in addition to) one’s immediate family. It is unpaid and
undertaken freely and by choice.’
Have carried out any voluntary work or activity in the 12 months prior
to the CHS (only refer to unpaid work or activities).
Instruments for measuring self-efficacy, locus of control and life
satisfaction
The instruments for measuring self-efficacy and locus of control are
each a simple statement based survey tool. They each take the form of
five simple statements to which the individual indicates to what extent
they agree or disagree on a five point Likert scale. Self-efficacy and
locus of control are each presented as an overall score, minimum 5 and
maximum 25, taken from the summated total of the five statement
questions.
Self-efficacy statement questions:
I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try hard enough.
I am confident that I could deal efficiently with unexpected events.
I can remain calm when facing difficulties because I can rely on my
coping abilities.
When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several
solutions.
No matter what comes my way, I’m usually able to handle it.
Locus of control statement questions1:
I am in control of my life.
If I take the right steps, I can avoid problems.
Most things that affect my life happen by accident.
If it’s meant to be, I will be successful.
I can only do what people in my life want me to do.
1Locus of control statement questions 3, 4 and 5
were reversed and recoded prior to analysis.
Life satisfaction
Life satisfaction is presented as a single statement question, ‘Overall,
how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?’ to which the individual
responds on an 11 point Likert scale (0-10). Life satisfaction is scored
out of 0-10, with 10 being the highest achievable score.
Loneliness
‘How often do you feel lonely? Often/always, Some of the time,
Occasionally, Hardly ever, Never’.
General Health question
‘How is your health in general? Would you say it was very good, good,
fair, bad or very bad’.
