Pulse Survey - Life at Home 2021: Renters, Lone Parents and Adults Living Alone or with a Parent

Respondents to the ‘Life at Home’ CSO Pulse Survey who live alone were asked a series of questions about their lives and their attitudes to their living arrangements. Of these respondents, 92% said they feel safe and secure in their home, 86% said they are happy living alone and 83% have someone to count on if they have a serious personal problem. Three in ten (30%) said they are often under financial pressure, one in three (34%) would prefer to live with others while 17% said they feel lonely all or most of the time. See Table 2.1 and Figure 2.1

Respondents living on their own – Analysis by sex

Although female respondents living alone were more likely to report that they feel lonely all or most of the time (19% compared with 14% of male respondents that live alone), they were less likely to say that they would prefer to live with others (32% compared with 37% of males). See Table 2.1 and Figure 2.2

Respondents living on their own – Analysis by age

Younger respondents (those aged 35 or younger) who live alone were more likely to say they feel lonely All or Most of the time when compared with older respondents. Almost one in four (23%) of these respondents said they feel lonely All or Most of the time compared with approximately 16% of respondents in the older age categories. Almost four in ten respondents (39%) living alone in both the 46-55 and 56-65 age categories said they are often under financial pressure. This compares with just over two in ten (22%) of those living alone aged over 65. Respondents aged over 65 were more likely to report that they would prefer to live with others with 37% expressing this view compared with 27% of respondents aged 35 or younger. See Table 2.1 and Figure 2.3

Respondents living on their own – Analysis by Tenure status

Respondents living alone in rented accommodation were more likely to report that they are often under financial pressure when compared with those living alone as an owner occupier. Almost half (47%) said they often feel under financial pressure, compared with just over two in ten (22%) who live alone in their own unmortgaged dwelling.

Owner occupiers were more likely to report feeling safe and secure in their own home. More than nine in ten (93%) of those who own their dwelling outright, and 96% of those with a mortgage, said they feel safe and secure compared with 88% of respondents living alone in rented accommodation.

Respondents living alone in rented accommodation were more likely to report feeling lonely all or most of the time with almost one in four (24%) feeling this way compared with 15% of those that own their home outright and 11% of those that have a mortgage on their dwelling. Approximately eight in ten owner occupiers living alone said they can get practical help if they need it compared with less than seven in ten (68%) who live alone in rented accommodation. See Table 2.1 and Figure 2.4

Respondents living on their own – Analysis by self-defined Health status

Each respondent was asked to rate their health status on a five-point scale, from ‘very good’ to ‘very bad’. Seven in ten (71%) respondents who live alone with a health rating of ‘fair’, ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ said they have someone they can count on if they have a serious personal problem compared with nine in ten (88%) of those who rated their health as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. Respondents with ‘fair’, ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ health were also less likely to say they are happy living alone (77% compared with 89% of those with ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health), to feel safe and secure in their own home (86% compared with 95% of those with ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health) and to get practical help when needed (59% compared with 84%). Respondents with ‘fair’, ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ health were more likely to say they feel lonely all or most of the time (29% compared with 11% of those with ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health) and to say they often feel under financial pressure (48% compared with 23% of those with ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health). See Table 2.1 and Figure 2.5

Respondents living on their own – Effect of living alone on mental health/wellbeing

Respondents who live alone were asked if they believe that living alone has an effect on their mental health/wellbeing. The response options to this question were (1) Yes, a positive effect (2) Yes, a negative effect (3) No effect. Almost five in ten (48%) male respondents said that living alone has No effect on their mental health compared with four in ten (40%) women. Female respondents were more likely to say that living alone has a negative effect on their mental health/wellbeing (29% compared with 25% of male respondents) and also more likely to say that living alone has a positive effect on their mental health/wellbeing (31% compared with 27% of male respondents). See Table 2.2 and Figure 2.6

Analysis by age shows that older respondents, those aged over 65, were more likely to say that living alone has No effect on their mental health/wellbeing with more than half (51%) of this age group reporting No effect compared with three in ten (31%) of those aged 35 or younger. Younger respondents (aged 35 and younger) were more likely to report a positive effect compared with older respondents, with four in ten (41%) of this age group reporting such an effect compared with 26% of those aged over 65. Respondents aged 56-65 were most likely to report that living alone has a negative effect on their mental health/wellbeing, with 36% reporting such. See Table 2.2 and Figure 2.7

Almost two in three (64%) of those who believe that living alone has a negative effect on their mental health/wellbeing would prefer to live with others. More than one in ten (12%) of those who believe that living alone affects their mental health/wellbeing positively would prefer to live with others. See Table 2.3

Respondents living on their own – Effect of having a pet on mental health/wellbeing

Respondents to the ‘Life at Home’ CSO Pulse Survey that have a pet were asked ‘Overall, do you think that your pet has an effect on your mental health/well-being?’ The response options to this question were (1) Yes, a positive effect (2) Yes, a negative effect (3) No effect. Respondents living alone with a dog and no other pet were more likely to report that their dog has a positive effect on their mental health/wellbeing when compared with respondents living in multi-person households that have a dog and no other pet (98% compared with 89%). Respondents with only a dog as a pet were more likely to report that the pet has a positive effect on mental health/wellbeing when compared with respondents who have a cat as the only pet. See Table 2.4 and Figure 2.8

Living alone - Effect of Pet on Mental Health/Wellbeing

Respondents to the ‘Life at Home’ CSO Pulse Survey that have a pet were asked ‘Overall, do you think that your pet has an effect on your mental health/well-being?’  The response options to this question were (1) Yes, a positive effect (2) Yes, a negative effect (3) No effect.  Analysis by household composition and pet ownership type shows that respondents living alone with a dog and no other pet were more likely to report that their dog has a positive effect on their mental health/wellbeing when compared to respondents living in multi-person households that have a dog and no other pet (98% compared with 89%).  Respondents with only a dog as a pet were more likely to report that the pet has a positive effect on mental health/wellbeing when compared with respondents who have a cat as the only pet.  See Table 2.4 and Figure 2.8.