HEALTH RISK FACTORS
PURPOSE
To provide information on selected health risk factors, namely exercise, height and weight, smoking and alcohol consumption.
DESCRIPTION
Information on Health Risk Factors was collected in May 1995 as part of the Population Survey Monitor (PSM), a quarterly household survey of approximately 2,000 households conducted throughout Australia. It is important to note that the questions asked on the Health Risk Factors topic in the PSM are less detailed than those asked in the National Health Survey, so caution should be exercised if attempting to compare results obtained from the two different vehicles. The PSM covered all usual residents aged 18 years and over in private dwellings in both urban and rural areas of all States and Territories of Australia. However, persons living in remote and sparsely settled areas were excluded from the collection. All persons living in non-private dwellings were also excluded. Questions on Health Risk Factors were asked of one randomly selected person aged 18 years or over within each selected household.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Quarterly for five quarters to May 1995.
DATA ITEMS
Exercise
Whether walked for recreation, sport or fitness in the last two weeks
Whether participated in any other exercise for recreation, sport or fitness in the last two weeks
How many times exercised (including walking) in the last two weeks
Total amount of time spent exercising in the last two weeks
Body dimensions
Height without shoes
Weight
Smoking
Records whether the respondent currently smokes.
Period since last alcohol consumption
Records the period since the last alcoholic drink was consumed.
One week or less
More than one week
Never
Don't remember
Alcohol consumption in the last seven days
Records, for those who consumed alcohol in the last seven days:
The days on which alcohol was consumed
Types of alcoholic drink consumed on each day
Quantity of each type of alcoholic drink consumed on each day
Types of alcoholic drink
Beer - extra/special light
Beer - Low alcohol
Beer - Full alcohol or stout
Red wine
White wine
Sparkling wine/champagne
Spirits
Liqueurs
Fortified wine
Other
Geographic area
Australia, States, Territories, Metropolitan or Rest of State.
Demographic characteristics
Demographic characteristics for which information is available include:
Age
Sex
Marital status
Country of birth
Household type (person living alone, married couple living alone, etc.)
Socioeconomic characteristics
Socioeconomic characteristics for which information is available include:
Labour force status (employed, unemployed or not in the labour force)
Main activity for those not employed
Educational attainment
Occupation (1-digit ASCO)
Industry (ANZSIC Division)
Personal income
Other topics of interest
In some quarters in which data on participation in sport and physical activities were collected, data were also collected on:
Attendance at botanic gardens (May 1994, November 1994 to May 1995)
Book reading (November 1994)
Children’s participation in sport and physical activities (August 1994 to May 1995)
Participation in gambling (May 1994 to May 1995)
Participation in sport and physical activities (May 1994 to May 1995)
Spectator sports (May 1994 to May 1995)
HISTORICAL DATA
Data were collected in each quarterly PSM survey from May 1994 to May 1995.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1995, Population Survey Monitor, Australia, May 1995, (Cat. no. 4103.0), ABS, Adelaide. Price $10.00. Also available for May, August and November 1994 and February 1995.
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Sport and Recreation Contact Officer
National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
GPO Box 2272
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Telephone: Adelaide 08 8237 7399
Facsimile: Adelaide 08 8237 7366
Email: nccrs@abs.gov.au