Scottish household survey 2019: culture and heritage - report

6 Impact of Culture and Heritage  

In 2019, two new biennial questions regarding the impact of culture on people’s lives were introduced to the Scottish Household Survey.

Respondents were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed with a number of statements (Table 6.1).^[37] Just under a half of respondents (46 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (21 per cent and 25 per cent respectively) with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’. Twenty-six per cent neither agreed nor disagreed with the statement, and 24 per cent either tended to disagree or strongly disagreed (14 per cent and 9 per cent respectively) with the statement. 

Around half of adults (50 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (18 per cent and 33 per cent respectively) with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my local community’. Just under half of respondents (45 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (14 per cent and 31 per cent respectively) that there are lots of opportunities to get involved in culture and the arts in their local area. 

Half of respondents (50 per cent) either tended to disagree or strongly disagreed (23 per cent and 27 per cent respectively) with the statement ‘culture and the arts are not really for me’. 

The majority of respondents (86 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree (59 per cent and 26 per cent respectively) that it is important to them that Scotland’s heritage^[38] is well looked after. The majority of respondents (69 per cent) either strongly agreed or tended to agree that the heritage of their local area is well looked after (34 and 35 per cent respectively).

Table 6.1: Views on culture and heritage - Percentage of adults, 2019 data 

Adults	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	No opinion	Base
Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life	21	25	26	14	9	4	9,780
Culture and the arts are not really for me	10	19	18	23	27	3	9,780
Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my local community	18	33	26	9	4	11	9,780
There are lots of opportunities to get involved in culture and the arts if I want to in my local area	14	31	24	13	6	12	9,780
It is important to me that Scotland’s heritage is well looked after	59	26	9	1	1	4	9,780
The heritage of my local area is well looked after	34	35	16	5	2	8	9,780

Those respondents who either strongly agreed or tended to agree that culture and the arts make a positive difference to their life were further asked about the type of positive difference culture and the arts make. 

Over three in four (77 per cent) of those who said that culture and the arts make a positive difference to their life reported that culture and the arts make them feel happy or are something that they really enjoy (Table 6.2). Forty-four percent said that culture and the arts improve their mental health and wellbeing. Twenty-eight per cent reported learning new skills and knowledge, and twenty seven per cent reported that meeting new people and making new friends as a reason for culture and the arts making a positive difference to their lives.

Table 6.2: Reasons for culture and the arts making a positive difference to people’s lives - Percentage of adults, 2019 data 

Adults	2019
Makes me feel happy/something I really enjoy	77
Improves my physical health and fitness	16
Improves my mental health and wellbeing	44
Takes my mind off my problems	24
I am meeting new people/making new friends	27
I am learning new skills/knowledge	28
Helps me to feel part of my local community	17
Other reason	3
Base	4,350

6.1 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Gender

Women were more likely than men to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (48 per cent and 44 per cent respectively) (Table 6.3). Women were more likely than men to strongly agree with the statement (23 per cent and 20 per cent respectively). Men were more likely than women to strongly disagree with the statement (10 per cent and 8 per cent respectively).

Table 6.3: Views on the statement ‘Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ by gender - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 4,360)

Adults	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	No opinion	Base
Women	23	25	26	14	8	5	5,410
Men	20	24	27	15	10	4	4,360
Identified in another way	*	*	*	*	*	*	0
Refused	*	*	*	*	*	*	0
All	21	25	26	14	9	4	9,780

6.2 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Age

People aged 75 and over were the least likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree (36 per cent) as well as tend to disagree or strongly disagree (34 per cent) with the statement that ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (Table 6.4). People aged 75 and over were the least likely to strongly agree with the statement (16 per cent). People aged 75 and over, together with 60 to 74-year-olds, were also the most likely to strongly disagree with the statement (both 13 per cent respectively).

Table 6.4: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by age - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 620)

Adults	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	No opinion	Base
16 to 24	23	26	26	13	6	6	620
25 to 34	22	24	29	12	8	5	1,320
35 to 44	23	26	28	12	7	4	1,420
45 to 59	22	25	27	14	9	3	2,410
60 to 74	20	24	23	17	13	3	2,540
75 plus	16	20	22	21	13	7	1,470
All	21	25	26	14	9	4	9,780

6.3 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Highest Level of Qualification 

Those with no qualifications were the least likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (23 per cent – see Table 6.5). There was a general pattern of agreement decreasing with level of qualifications. Those with no qualifications were also the most likely to either tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (41 per cent). Those with a degree or a professional qualification were the most likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree (67 per cent) with the statement, and the least likely to tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (12 per cent).

Those with a degree or a professional qualification were more likely than other groups to strongly agree with the statement. Thirty-six per cent of those with a degree or a professional qualification strongly agreed while nine per cent of those with no qualifications strongly agreed. Those with no qualifications were the most likely to strongly disagree with the statement (20 per cent). Four per cent of those with a degree or a professional qualification strongly disagreed with the statement.

Table 6.5: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by highest level of qualification - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 70)

Adults	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	No opinion	Base
Degree, Professional qualification	36	30	20	8	4	1	2,960
HNC/HND or equivalent	19	29	31	11	7	3	1,130
Higher, A level or equivalent	18	28	28	15	9	3	1,460
O Grade, Standard grade or equivalent	11	20	32	19	12	6	1,710
Other qualification	13	16	31	24	11	5	640
No qualifications	9	14	24	21	20	11	1,810
Qualifications not known	9	11	42	15	3	20	70
All	21	25	26	14	9	4	9,780

6.4 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

Those living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas (SIMD, 2020) were the least likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (34 per cent). They were also the most likely to either tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (31 per cent – see Table 6.6). Those living in the 20 per cent least deprived areas were the most likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement (58 per cent) as well as the least likely to tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (15 per cent). There was a general pattern of agreement decreasing with level of deprivation as well as of disagreement increasing with level of deprivation.

Those living in the 20 per cent least deprived areas and in areas falling within the fourth quintile were the most likely to strongly agree with the statement (28 per cent and 25 per cent respectively). Sixteen per cent of those living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas strongly agreed with the statement. Those living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas were the most likely to strongly disagree with the statement (13 per cent) while six per cent of those living in the 20 per cent least deprived areas strongly disagreed.

Table 6.6: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 1,800)

Adults	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	No opinion	Base
20% Most deprived	16	18	28	18	13	7	1,830
2	16	24	27	17	10	6	1,980
3	21	25	25	15	10	4	2,150
4	25	25	26	13	8	3	2,020
20% Least deprived	28	30	25	10	6	2	1,800
All	21	25	26	14	9	4	9,780

6.5 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Net Annual Household Income

Those with a net annual household income of over £30,000 were the most likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (52 per cent). They were also the least likely to tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (18 per cent – see Table 6.7).

Those with a net annual income of between £0 and £10,000 and over £30,000 were the most likely to strongly agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (both 24 per cent respectively). While 14 per cent of those with an income of £0-£10,000 strongly disagreed with the statement, seven per cent of those with an income of over £30,000 strongly disagreed.

Table 6.7: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by net annual household income - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 900)

Adults	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	No opinion	Base
£0-£10,000	24	19	23	15	14	6	900
£10,001 - £20,000	17	22	26	19	11	5	2,880
£20,001 - £30,000	18	24	26	16	11	5	2,100
Over £30,000	24	27	27	12	7	3	3,500
All	21	25	26	14	9	4	9,780

6.6 Views on the Statement 'Culture and the Arts Make a Positive Difference to My Life' by Long-Term Physical or Mental Health Condition 

Those with a long-term physical or mental health condition that caused major reduced daily capacity were the least likely to strongly agree or to tend to agree with the statement ‘culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life’ (33 per cent). They were also the most likely to either tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (35 per cent – see Table 6.8). Just under half (48 per cent) of those with no conditions tended to agree or strongly agreed with the statement and just over one in five (21 per cent) tended to disagree or strongly disagreed (14 per cent and seven per cent respectively) with the statement. 

Those with a condition that caused long-term major reduced daily capacity were the least likely to strongly agree with the statement. While 15 per cent of those belonging to this group strongly agreed with the statement, 23 per cent of those with no physical or mental health condition strongly agreed. Those with a long-term condition that caused major reduced daily capacity were the most likely to tend to disagree or to strongly disagree with the statement (17 per cent). Seven per cent of those with no physical or mental health condition strongly disagreed with the statement.

Table 6.8: Views on the statement 'Culture and the arts make a positive difference to my life' by long-term physical or mental health condition - Percentage of adults, 2019 data (minimum base: 610)

Adults	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	No opinion	Base
Yes, causes long term major reduced daily capacity	15	18	23	18	17	9	1,560
Yes, causes long term minor reduced daily capacity	20	25	26	15	11	3	1,290
Yes, but no reduced daily capacity	20	28	25	14	10	3	610
None	23	26	27	14	7	4	6,270
All	21	25	26	14	9	4	9,780