Table 1 Variable Descriptions and Characteristics

Orgnumber

Number of memberships of organisations

0.967

General Health

General Health scale (1 - very poor to 4 - Excellent)

GHQ12

GHQ12 Likert scale (0 to 36)

11.083

Age

Age in years

47.156

Age0

Aged between 16 and 29 years

0.192

Age1

Aged between 30 and 64 years

0.609

Age2

Aged 65 years and above

0.199

BHPS

Data from the BHPS survey compared to the USS

0.597

Sex

Gender (1 - male, 0 female)

0.447

Couple

Married or a couple versus other marital status (1- yes, 0- no)

0.558

Higher Education

Has a degree or equivalent (1- yes, 0- no)

0.172

Child 0–2

Number of children aged 0 to 2 years

0.079

Child 3–4

Number of children aged 3 to 4 years

0.069

Child 5–11

Number of children aged 5 to 11 years

0.250

Child 12–15

Number of children aged 12 to 15 years

0.161

Real Family Income

Real gross monthly household income (£)

1654.99

Self employed

Self employed (1- yes, 0- no)

0.073

Employed

Employed full time (1- yes, 0- no)

0.508

Unemployed

Unemployed (1- yes, 0- no)

0.038

Retired

Retired (1- yes, 0- no)

0.222

Maternity leave

On maternity leave (1- yes, 0- no)

0.005

Family care

Caring for the family (1- yes, 0- no)

0.067

Full-time study

In full-time study (1- yes, 0- no)

0.045

Long-term sick

On long-term sick leave (1- yes, 0- no)

0.036

England

Respondent is from England (1- yes, 0- no)

0.710

Scotland

Respondent is from Scotland (1- yes, 0- no)

0.126

Wales

Respondent is from Wales (1- yes, 0- no)

0.103

n

153, 382