Health Survey (NI): First Results 2022/23

The Department of Health today published the “Health Survey (NI): First Results 2022/23” report and accompanying trend tables.

The Health Survey (NI) has run annually, on a continuous basis, since 2010/11. The 2022/23 survey included questions relating to general health, mental health and wellbeing, smoking and drinking alcohol. The sample size for the survey was 3,582 individuals aged 16 and over.

Impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on data collection

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, data collection for the 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 Health Survey Northern Ireland moved from face-to-face interviewing to telephone mode. Details on the changes and potential impact can be found in the Notes section at the end of the press release.

Key Findings

• in 2022/23, almost three-quarters of respondents (72%) rated their general health as very good or good; very good or good self-assessed general health declined with age from 90% of 16–24-year-olds to 51% of those aged 75+.
• almost a third (31%) of respondents reported having a longstanding physical or mental health condition that reduces their ability to carry out day-to-day activities; this proportion has remained at a relatively similar level since 2015/16.
• a fifth (20%) of respondents had a high GHQ12 score, which could indicate a mental health problem. This was significantly lower than the 27% reported in 2020/21, however it is similar to 2021/22 (21%). Males (18%) were less likely than females (22%) to have a high GHQ12 score and respondents in the most deprived areas (28%) continue to be more likely to have a high GHQ12 score than those in the least deprived areas (17%).
• around a third (32%) of respondents reported having concerns about their own mental health in the past year (15% definitely; 17% to some extent).  This was lower than the findings in 2021/22 (35% overall: 15% definitely & 20% to some extent).
• around a fifth of respondents (19%) exhibited signs of loneliness by scoring highly on the UCLA loneliness scale. Respondents living in urban areas and those in the most deprived areas were more likely to exhibit signs of loneliness than those in rural areas and the least deprived areas respectively.
• in 2022/23, 14% of respondents were current cigarette smokers; this is a decrease compared with the 2021/22 finding of 17%.  Smoking prevalence has decreased from 24% in 2010/11. Around a quarter (24%) of those living in the most deprived areas smoke (down from 40% in 2010/11) compared with 7% of those living in the least deprived areas (down from 14% in 2010/11).
• around one in ten respondents (9%) reported that they currently use e-cigarettes or vaping devices (up from 7% in 2021/22).  Males (10%) were more likely than females (8%) to report current use.  Use decreased with age, ranging from 17% of those aged 16-34 to 1% of those aged 75 and over.  Those living in the most deprived areas (13%) were around twice as likely to use e-cigarettes as those in the least deprived areas (7%).  Similarly, those living in urban areas (11%) were more likely to use e-cigarettes than those living in rural areas (6%).
• over three-quarters (77%) of respondents aged 18 and over reported that they drank alcohol.  This was similar to 2021/22 (79%).  A quarter of male respondents (25%) reported drinking above recommended weekly limits (14 units per week), while this was true for around a tenth of female respondents (9%).  Male drinkers (16%) were more likely than female drinkers (10%) to report drinking on three or more days per week.  

This publication is a summary of the main topics included in the 2022/23 Health Survey. Further bulletins and tables will be made available on the Health Survey page on the Departmental website.

Notes to editors: 

1. The survey was commissioned by the Department of Health and covered the period April 2022 to March 2023.

2. Impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on data collection

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, data collection for the 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 Health Survey Northern Ireland moved from face-to-face interviewing to telephone mode. This change may have altered how people responded to the survey.

The achieved 2022/23 response rate on the survey in telephone mode was 56% which is similar to normal achieved response rates in face-to-face mode.  The precision of the survey estimates in the 2020-21 and 2021/22 years (where the achieved response rates were 18% and 47% respectively) was reduced compared with previous findings, especially when broken down by sub-groups of the population.

The demographic profile of the achieved sample has an under-representation of people aged 16 to 34. The 2022/23 results are based on information that has been weighted by sex and age and whilst the weighting should reduce bias in the results, they cannot eliminate all forms of bias which may be present in the data.  (To note, the 2020/21 health survey weight was based on sex, age and Multiple Deprivation Measure (MDM) as the sample had fewer households from the most deprived areas and more households from the least deprived areas in comparison with previous years. The weights for all other years were based on sex and age).

Any changes within the 2022/23 data compared with previous years must be considered in the context of all the above. Caution should be taken in reaching any conclusions based on 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 data and comparisons with previous years as the findings may not be directly comparable with previous years.

Interviews were carried out across the period April 2022 to March 2023, therefore the figures in the report can be regarded as a representative average across the whole year.

Further details on these changes can be found in a document published alongside this bulletin, titled ‘Health Survey Northern Ireland 2022/23 - Things users need to know’.

3. The sample for the survey consisted of a systematic random sample of addresses from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Address Register (NAR). The NAR is developed within NISRA and is primarily based on the Land & Property Services (LPS) POINTER database. A total of 6,240 addresses were selected for interview. From an eligible sample of 5,537 addresses, 3,117 households took part, giving a response rate of 56%. At each household, everyone aged 16 or over was selected to participate in the survey. A total of 3,582 interviews were achieved.

4. Unless otherwise specified, results relate to adults aged 16 and over.

5. The results are based on information that has been weighted by sex and age in order to better reflect the composition of the general population of Northern Ireland. Whilst this weighting should reduce bias in the results, it cannot eliminate all forms of bias which may be present in the data.

6. As the results are based on data collected from a sample of the population, they are subject to sampling error. This should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results. Differences reported are those that are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.

7. The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017 (NIMDM) was used as a measure of deprivation.  The NIMDM 2017 is the official measure of deprivation in Northern Ireland.

8. Any material used must be acknowledged and sourced to the Health Survey Northern Ireland, Department of Health. 

9. This publication is available on our website Health survey Northern Ireland | Department of Health

10. Additional information is available from:

Public Health Information and Research Branch
Information Analysis Directorate
Department of Health
Annex 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast BT4 3SQ
Telephone:          028 9052 2523
E-mail: PHIRB@health-ni.gov.uk

11. For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by e-mail: pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk

12. Follow us on X @healthdpt(external link opens in a new window / tab) and linkedIn Department of Health NI | LinkedIn(external link opens in a new window / tab)

13. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The Duty Press Officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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