The Irish Times/TNS MRBI Poll - 50+: Far from being obsessed with their own health, most over-50s are more concerned about the war on terrorism, writes Mark Brennock
Personal happiness remains undiminished with age. But despite extremely high happiness levels concerns about personal finances, the nature of Irish society and the state of the world are strong among the over 50s.
This latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll is different from the regular political opinion poll series. It tested the attitudes and outlook of the over 50s, the age cohort representing about a quarter of the State's population. This group exercises proportionately greater political influence than the young, as its members are more likely to vote. Through ownership of property and assets they probably control more of the State's personal wealth, and the over 50s who remain at work exercise greater influence in a variety of areas of society as they are generally closer to the top of their chosen professions and organisations than are the young.
Its size and influence will grow further over the coming years. Central Statistics Office projections suggest the proportion of over 50s in the State could rise from 25 per cent now to around 40 per cent by 2036. Over the coming days we will publish details of the attitudes within this age group to political and social issues, their levels of trust in various social institutions, their religious beliefs, financial affairs and retirement funding.
Many findings challenge traditional stereotypes of what it is like to be older. For example there is a common supposition among the young that older people must fret considerably about their personal health.
This poll shows that this is not the case, with just 6 per cent extremely concerned or worried about their personal health, 11 per cent very concerned and 24 per cent somewhat concerned. Some 36 per cent are not particularly concerned or worried about their health and 23 per cent are not concerned at all.
Concern about personal health does rise somewhat with age, but not to high levels. Combining those who described themselves either as extremely or very concerned about their personal health, 12 per cent of the 50-59 group has this level of worry. Some 17 per cent of the 60-64 cohort is extremely or very concerned about their health while 21 per cent of those aged 65-69 and 20 per cent of the over 70s have such concern.
Some 24 per cent have an ongoing physical ailment, some 12 per cent have an ongoing sight or hearing ailment, and 8 per cent have an ongoing psychological ailment. Yet the fear of ill health does not cause great concern among the over 50s. The personal issues that concern older people more are financial, relating to day-to-day living expenses and the amount of money they will have to live on when older or retired. Some 54 per cent are extremely or very concerned about day-to-day living expenses, with 44 per cent extremely or very concerned about the amount of money they will have to live on when older.
Nine issues put to poll respondents can be ranked on a scale according to the concern to the over 50s. The issue causing most concern is the manner in which the US and its allies are conducting the war on international terrorism followed by crime and personal security; day-to-day living expenses, the threat of international terrorism; the health service in general; the money they will have to live on when retired; the number of immigrants coming into the country; world climate change and personal health.
So despite personal happiness, the over 50s worry significantly about their finances, crime and the health services. A substantial majority is pleased with the way the economy is developing with 63 per cent happy about it, 28 per cent unhappy and 9 per cent having no opinion. But there is evidence too of a more general unease over the direction of Irish society with 52 per cent saying they are unhappy about it, 38 per cent that they are happy and 10 per cent having no opinion. The unhappiness is more pronounced in urban than rural areas and among the oldest age groups. So in a period in which so much public political discourse concerns the operation and stability of the economy, substantial numbers of the over 50s do not equate a healthy economy with a healthy society.
Happiness levels are notably higher among those who are married or living as married than those who are single, widowed, separated or divorced. Among the married and living as married, 96 per cent are happy, 2 per cent unhappy and 2 per cent don't know. Some 90 per cent of single people say they are happy, 9 per cent that they are unhappy and 1 per cent don't know. Among the widowed, separated and divorced 87 per cent are happy, 12 per cent unhappy and 1 per cent don't know.
But in all groups, the perception of happiness is very high indeed. The Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson, who himself died at 44, had an optimistic view of what it would be like to get older, a view borne out by this poll. "What would it be to grow old?" he wrote. "For, after a certain distance, every step we take in life we find the ice growing thinner below our feet, and all around us and behind us we see our contemporaries going through. By the time a man gets well into the 70s his continued existence is a mere miracle, and when he lays his old bones in bed for the night, there is an overwhelming probability that he will never see the day. Do the old men mind it . . ? Why, no. They were never merrier . . ."
Q. To what degree are you concerned or worried about the following...
My personal health
Extremely concerned/worried...6%
Very concerned/worried...11%
Somewhat concerned/worried...24%
Not particularly concerned/worried...36%
Not at all concerned/worried...23%
The health service in general
Extremely concerned/worried...19%
Very concerned/worried...26%
Somewhat concerned/ worried...24%
Not particularly concerned/worried...22%
Not at all concerned/worried...9%
Crime and personal security
Extremely concerned/worried...20%
Very concerned/worried...37%
Somewhat concerned/worried...23%
Not particularly concerned/worried...14%
Not at all concerned/worried...6%
The amount of immigrants coming into the country
Extremely concerned/worried...17%
Very concerned/worried...25%
Somewhat concerned/worried...24%
Not particularly concerned/worried...22%
Not at all concerned/worried...12%
World climate change
Extremely concerned/worried...11%
Very concerned/worried...28%
Somewhat concerned/worried...28%
Not particularly concerned/worried...21%
Not at all concerned/worried...12%
The threat of international terrorism
Extremely concerned/worried...17%
Very concerned/worried...34%
Somewhat concerned/worried...27%
Not particularly concerned/worried...16%
Not at all concerned/worried...6%
The manner in which the US and its allies are conducting the war on international terrorism...
Extremely concerned/worried...24%
Very concerned/worried...34%
Somewhat concerned/worried...25%
Not particularly concerned/worried...12%
Not at all concerned/worried...5%
Day-to-day living expenses
Extremely concerned/worried...22%
Very concerned/worried...32%
Somewhat concerned/worried...22%
Not particularly concerned/worried...17%
Not at all concerned/worried...7%
The amount of money I will have to live on when I am older/retired
Extremely concerned/worried...17%
Very concerned/worried...27%
Somewhat concerned/worried...22%
Not particularly concerned/worried...22%
Not at all concerned/worried...12%
Q. Would you describe your general health as . . .
Good? 69%
Middling? 26%
Bad? 5%
Q. And do you suffer from . . . YES ... NO
An ongoing sight or hearing ailment? (By this I mean sight or hearing problems that are not corrected easily by wearing glasses or using a hearing aid.) 12% ... 88%
An ongoing physical ailment? (By this I mean difficulty in walking or climbing stairs, restricted movement, problems lifting or carrying, or stamina problems.) 24% ... 76%
An ongoing psychological ailment, such as feelings of anxiety or depression? 8% ... 92%