Health-related behaviour in a small Scottish community

A survey of health-related behaviours was carried out in a small Scottish town. A random sample stratified by age and sex was drawn from the records of the sole local health centre. A previously validated questionnaire was sent by post with a covering letter from the general practitioners and a reply paid envelope. An overall response rate of 71.3% was achieved. The results indicated very high rates of smoking for women with manual jobs, but differences between men in manual & non manual groups were not significant. Younger women reported higher alcohol consumption than older women, but there were no significant differences between occupational groups or employed and unemployed men. Only a minority of respondents reported regular consumption of high fibre products, low fat milk and polyunsaturated margarine and few claimed to undertake vigorous exercise. In general health-related behaviours showed little association with self-rated health. Whilst the data confirm the importance of socio-demographic factors in certain behaviours they also indicate that these are inadequate to predict the pattern of such behaviours within a community.