4433.0.55.004 - Psychological Disability, 2012  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 09/02/2015  First Issue
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PREVALENCE

In 2012, 3.4% of Australians (770,500 people) reported having a psychological disability, with similar rates for men and women (3.3% compared with 3.4%). Of all people with any type of disability, 18.5% had a psychological disability.

For women, the prevalence of psychological disability increased steadily with age, with a rate of one in every five women aged 85 years and over (20.2%). Although prevalence generally increased with age, there was a significant decrease for women aged 65-74 years (3.3%) whose rate was on par with women aged 35-44 years (2.9%).

For men, there was a higher prevalence (compared with women) in the younger age groups, with boys aged 0-14 years three times as likely as girls of a similar age to have a psychological disability (2.2% compared with 0.7%). This can be explained by the higher prevalence of autism in males in this age group. Overall, the prevalence for men also increased with age.

Graph Image for ALL PERSONS Proportion with a psychological disability by age and sex, 2012

Source(s): Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, 2012



There were differences in the prevalence of psychological disability across Australia's states and territories, driven in part by the differing age structures, given that psychological disability increases with age. In 2012, Tasmania and South Australia had the highest rates of psychological disability (4.3% and 4.2% respectively). The Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia had the lowest rates (2.0%, 2.9% and 3.0% respectively).

For those people with a disability, the SDAC collected information about whether they had a specific limitation or restriction that meant they were limited in the core activities of self-care, mobility or communication, or restricted in schooling or employment (for more information see the Disability, Carers and Ageing: User Guide, 2012 (cat. no. 4431.0.55.001).

Of those Australians with psychological disability, just over four in ten (42.0%) reported profound levels of core activity limitation, and a further two in ten (19.8%) reported severe limitations. Of the remaining people with psychological disability, 10.4% reported moderate levels of core activity limitations, 16.9% mild core activity limitations, and 7.2% reported school or employment restrictions only. Just 3.4% of all people with psychological disability reported no core activity limitations, schooling or employment restrictions.

While men and women with psychological disability had similar rates of profound or severe core activity limitations (60.4% compared with 63.3%), men were more likely than women to have schooling or employment restrictions (9.4% compared with 5.5%).

Graph Image for ALL PERSONS WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISABILITY Proportion with each disability status, by sex, 2012

Footnote(s): (a) Excludes people who have both a core activity limitation and a schooling or employment restriction.

Source(s): Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, 2012



COMPARISON BETWEEN 2009 AND 2012 INFORMATION

The prevalence of psychological disability has increased over time, from 2.8% (606,000 people) in 2009 to 3.4% in 2012 (770,500 people). The most striking increase was seen for people in the 15-24 year age group, where the prevalence has almost doubled in this 4 year period (from 1.2% in 2009, to 2.3% in 2012).

There are two main drivers behind this increase. The first is an increase in anxiety related disorders which rose from 35.8% of people with psychological disability in 2009 to 38.9% in 2012 and are one of the most common long-term health conditions reported by people with psychological disability. The second is an increase in the rates of autism and related disorders which increased from 5.0% in 2009 to 7.4% in 2012 (for more information on autism, please see Autism in Australia, 2012 (cat. no. 4428.0).