Public Health (1990), 104, 153
© The Societyof Public Health, 1990
Editorial
Social Trends The twentieth in the series of reports published by the Central Statistical Office on Social Trends ~ gives a fascinating view of life in these islands, and much information which is surprising. For instance most of us know that the rates of tax paid by the rich have been reduced over recent years, but how many know that the proportion of income tax paid by the top 10% increased from 35% in 1976-7 to 39% in 1989-90? [Table 5.11]. Or which three European countries had the highest marriage rate per 1000 eligible population in 1981 ? The answer is Portugal (7.7), Greece (7.3) and the United Kingdom (7.1) [Table 2.14]. By 1987 these figures had all fallen, to 7.0, 6.6 and 7.0 respectively, with the U K now equal top of the European league with Portugal. When it comes to the divorce rate per 1000 marriages, the U K is second, with 12.6 in 1987, exceeded only by Denmark with 12.7. But perhaps the most illuminating information relates to family size. The number o f one person households in Great Britain has increased from 12% of households in 1961 to 26% in 1988, although the number in the German Federal Republic is even higher, at 31% (in 1987) 2 followed by Denmark with 29%. One consequence of the large proportion living alone is that the average household size in Great Britain has fallen from 3.09 in 1961 to 2.48 in 1988 [Table 2.2], which means that we need to increase the number of homes by very nearly 25% just to cope with the same population. The large number of small families is one of the major problems which we will have to face in the future, including as it does the large number of old people living alone as well as an increasing number o f one parent families. Since man is a social animal, needing the support of family and friends, we can expect an increase in social and mental problems from this fact alone. We need to make adequate provision for the unsupported at each stage, from the one parent family where the mother needs special help with her child, through adolescence, where too many appear on the streets unsupported; on to the loneliness of an old age without friends or family. Social Trends also deals with the changing pattern of eating [Table 7.10]. Taking the consumption in 1981 as 100, the consumption of fresh potatoes for example has fallen from 135 in 1961 to 87 in 1988. In the same period, the consumption of other fresh vegetables fell slightly from 103 to 98, but the consumption of other vegetables and vegetable products rose from 58 to 114. The pattern for fruit was similar, with a small increase from 87 to 105 in the consumption of fresh fruit, but with an enormous increase in other (non-fresh) fruit and fruit products from 80 to 138. In bread there has been a switch from standard white loaves (165 in 1961 and 71 in 1988) to all other bread (96 in 1961 and 156 in 1988). More dramatic have been falls in butter consumption from 168 in 1961 to 54 in 1988 and in mutton and lamb where the fall in consumption has been similar. Eggs were clearly becoming less popular long before Mrs Currie. For every 127 eggs eaten in 1961, 100 were eaten in 1981 and only 73 by 1988. These are dramatic changes in lifestyle which are already bringing marked benefits to health, of which one example is the significant reduction in the death rates for stroke at all ages. If these trends continue, the pattern for the future would seem to be that of a nation which will eat more healthily, but end up lonelier than our forebears. A. M. B. G O L D I N G References 1. Social Trends, 20 (1990 edition). 2. Social Trends, 19 (1989 edition). Central Statistical Office. London: HMSO, price £21.95.
© The Societyof Public Health, 1990
Editorial
Social Trends The twentieth in the series of reports published by the Central Statistical Office on Social Trends ~ gives a fascinating view of life in these islands, and much information which is surprising. For instance most of us know that the rates of tax paid by the rich have been reduced over recent years, but how many know that the proportion of income tax paid by the top 10% increased from 35% in 1976-7 to 39% in 1989-90? [Table 5.11]. Or which three European countries had the highest marriage rate per 1000 eligible population in 1981 ? The answer is Portugal (7.7), Greece (7.3) and the United Kingdom (7.1) [Table 2.14]. By 1987 these figures had all fallen, to 7.0, 6.6 and 7.0 respectively, with the U K now equal top of the European league with Portugal. When it comes to the divorce rate per 1000 marriages, the U K is second, with 12.6 in 1987, exceeded only by Denmark with 12.7. But perhaps the most illuminating information relates to family size. The number o f one person households in Great Britain has increased from 12% of households in 1961 to 26% in 1988, although the number in the German Federal Republic is even higher, at 31% (in 1987) 2 followed by Denmark with 29%. One consequence of the large proportion living alone is that the average household size in Great Britain has fallen from 3.09 in 1961 to 2.48 in 1988 [Table 2.2], which means that we need to increase the number of homes by very nearly 25% just to cope with the same population. The large number of small families is one of the major problems which we will have to face in the future, including as it does the large number of old people living alone as well as an increasing number o f one parent families. Since man is a social animal, needing the support of family and friends, we can expect an increase in social and mental problems from this fact alone. We need to make adequate provision for the unsupported at each stage, from the one parent family where the mother needs special help with her child, through adolescence, where too many appear on the streets unsupported; on to the loneliness of an old age without friends or family. Social Trends also deals with the changing pattern of eating [Table 7.10]. Taking the consumption in 1981 as 100, the consumption of fresh potatoes for example has fallen from 135 in 1961 to 87 in 1988. In the same period, the consumption of other fresh vegetables fell slightly from 103 to 98, but the consumption of other vegetables and vegetable products rose from 58 to 114. The pattern for fruit was similar, with a small increase from 87 to 105 in the consumption of fresh fruit, but with an enormous increase in other (non-fresh) fruit and fruit products from 80 to 138. In bread there has been a switch from standard white loaves (165 in 1961 and 71 in 1988) to all other bread (96 in 1961 and 156 in 1988). More dramatic have been falls in butter consumption from 168 in 1961 to 54 in 1988 and in mutton and lamb where the fall in consumption has been similar. Eggs were clearly becoming less popular long before Mrs Currie. For every 127 eggs eaten in 1961, 100 were eaten in 1981 and only 73 by 1988. These are dramatic changes in lifestyle which are already bringing marked benefits to health, of which one example is the significant reduction in the death rates for stroke at all ages. If these trends continue, the pattern for the future would seem to be that of a nation which will eat more healthily, but end up lonelier than our forebears. A. M. B. G O L D I N G References 1. Social Trends, 20 (1990 edition). 2. Social Trends, 19 (1989 edition). Central Statistical Office. London: HMSO, price £21.95.
