Local Surveys Involving Adults

A number of Health and Wellbeing Surveys have been completed with adults (generally aged 16+ years) since 2003 which provide valuable information on the health, wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours of adults in Hull.

The latest Adult Health and Lifestyle Survey was conducted during 2019.

Young People Health and Wellbeing Surveys have been undertaken in Hull as well as Other Surveys and Qualitative Research (including Social Capital Surveys). Social capital examines feelings of safety when walking in the community, civic engagement, neighbourliness, social networks and social support.

Further information relating to young people and qualitative surveys can be found under Surveys within Tools and Resources. General findings from the surveys on specific topics are also covered within other sections, for example, in General Health under Health Factors or in Smoking under Lifestyle Factors within Adults.

Hull’s Adult Health and Wellbeing Surveys

Adult Health and Wellbeing Surveys have been completed in Hull in 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011-12, 2014 and 2019. Health and Wellbeing Surveys among people from ethnic minorities and among Gypsy and Travellers have also both been undertaken in Hull in 2007 and 2011-12. A Health and Wellbeing Survey among veterans was completed in 2009. Adult Social Capital Surveys have been completed in 2004 and 2009, although the subsequent Health and Wellbeing Surveys also included some questions on social capital. There have also been some qualitative research undertaken in Hull which involved adults.

There were slight differences in the survey questions asked over time, but the same main topics and questions were asked so that trends over time could be examined. The topics included self-reported health status, emotional wellbeing, and lifestyle and behaviours such as smoking, diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity and obesity. Questions on social capital were also included which examines feelings of safety when walking in the community, civic engagement, neighbourliness, social networks and social support.

The majority of the surveys used the same methodology with quota sampling used where a quota or target number of survey responders in each gender, age group and geographical area (usually each electoral ward) was used to help ensure that an even spread of survey responders across both genders, all age groups and across the geographical areas in Hull resulted for the final sample. This means that it is more likely that the survey is representative of Hull’s overall population, and the prevalence estimates from the survey can more readily be applied to Hull’s overall population to give an accurate estimate for Hull, e.g. the percentage of current smokers.

The Health and Wellbeing Survey conducted in 2003 was a postal survey, and it is acknowledged that the resulting sample of survey responders might not be representative of Hull’s population at the time. It is well-known that certain people are more likely to participate in surveys compared to other groups, and this can result in a biased sample of survey responders who are not representative of the overall population, and biases are more likely to occur with postal surveys. The other surveys as well as using quota sampling, generally involved an interviewer knocking on the door, and asking the person answering the door or a member of their household to complete the questionnaire. If agreed, in most cases, the questionnaire was left for the person to complete in their own time with the interviewer returning at an agreed time to pick up the completed questionnaire. The method of picking up the completed questionnaire personally rather than leaving an addressed pre-paid envelope to return the questionnaire increased the response rate considerably as well as reducing survey bias.

The most recent adult Health and Wellbeing Survey conducted in 2019 included trends over time for all questions that had been asked previously. So in most cases it may not be necessary to examine reports from previous surveys, unless the older survey included additional questions or involved specific groups of individuals.

The following Excel file gives the questions that have been in asked in all the adult Health and Wellbeing and Social Capital Surveys in Hull.

Hull’s Adult Health and Wellbeing Survey 2019

Just over 4,000 Hull residents aged 16+ years participated in the adult Health and Wellbeing Survey 2019. Quota sampling was used and interviewers approached participants through knocking on their doors. Questionnaires were left for the survey responder to complete in their own time, and then the interviewer collected the completed questionnaire at an agreed later date.

Individual topic summary reports have been produced for the most recent survey, although there are a couple of reports which combine the information from all the different topics. If you want something specific examining from the survey that is not included in the following reports, please contact us at [email protected] and we may be able to help.

Hull’s Adult Health and Wellbeing Survey 2014

Just over 5,000 Hull residents aged 16+ years participated in the adult Health and Wellbeing Survey 2014. Quota sampling was used and interviewers approached participants through knocking on their doors. Questionnaires were left for the survey responder to complete in their own time, and then the interviewer collected the completed questionnaire at an agreed later date.

In the 2014 Health and Wellbeing Survey, a main report was prepared which included all the topics in a single report.

Hull’s Adult Health and Wellbeing Surveys 2011-12

Just over 13,500 Hull residents aged 16+ years participated in the adult Health and Wellbeing Survey 2011-12 and 1,000 Hull residents aged 16+ years participated in the adult specifically for people from minority ethnic backgrounds. For the main survey, quota sampling was used and interviewers approached participants through knocking on their doors. The methodology for the survey for people from minority ethnic backgrounds differed and further details are available within the survey report. Questionnaires were left for the survey responder to complete in their own time, and then the interviewer collected the completed questionnaire at an agreed later date, although some interviewers were also undertaken (1.4% in the main survey and 10.6% in survey for ethnic minorities).

In the 2011-12 Health and Wellbeing Surveys, a main report was prepared which included all the topics in a single report. A separate single report was also available for the ethnic minorities where the findings of the ethnic minorities were compared against the ‘main survey’ cohort. As the aim of the main Health and Wellbeing Survey was to achieve a representative sample of Hull’s residents, this survey also included people from ethnic minorities groups (although with a slightly lower response rate among people from ethnic minorities they were slightly under-represented in the ‘main’ survey cohort).

A Health and Wellbeing Survey was also commissioned in 2011-12 for Gypsy and Travellers with the intention to survey 100 Gypsy and Travellers. A total of 72 Gypsy and Travellers participated in the survey with around one-third completing the questionnaire themselves and two-thirds being interviewed. As the number of individuals surveyed was small, a survey report was not prepared, although analysis of the findings were undertaken and further information can be found under Gypsy and Travellers within Vulnerable Groups.

The full report and questionnaire are available on request. Please contact us on [email protected].

Qualitative research was also undertaken in 2011 following the survey, and the reports are given within Other Local Surveys and Qualitative Research under Surveys within Tools and Resources.

Hull’s Adult Health and Wellbeing Surveys 2009

A total of 1,750 Hull residents aged 18+ years participated in the adult Health and Wellbeing Survey 2009. Quota sampling was used and interviewers approached participants through knocking on their doors. Interviews were conducted (rather than questionnaires being self-completed).

A Social Capital Survey was also conducted in 2009 and further details can also be found within Other Local Surveys and Qualitative Research under Surveys under Tools and Resources. This involved a similar methodology and just over 4,000 Hull residents aged 16+ years participated in this survey. The Social Capital Survey also included some questions on health and wellbeing, and lifestyle behaviours.

The full report and questionnaire are available on request. Please contact us on [email protected].

A Veteran Health and Wellbeing Survey was also conducted in 2009 and included in-depth interviews with a small number of survey participants. A separate single report was also available for the Veteran Health and Wellbeing Survey where the findings of the Veterans were compared against the ‘main survey’ cohort. Further information is available within Other Local Surveys and Qualitative Research under Surveys under Tools and Resources.

Hull’s Adult Health and Wellbeing Surveys 2007

Just over 4,000 Hull residents aged 16+ years participated in the adult Health and Wellbeing Survey 2007 and 1,100 Hull residents aged 16+ years participated in the survey specifically for adults from minority ethnic backgrounds. For the main survey, quota sampling was used and interviewers approached participants through knocking on their doors. The methodology for the survey for people from minority ethnic backgrounds differed and further details are available within the survey report. Questionnaires were left for the survey responder to complete in their own time, and then the interviewer collected the completed questionnaire at an agreed later date, although some interviewers were also undertaken (10% in the ‘main’ survey and 61% for the ethnic minorities survey).

A Health and Wellbeing Survey was also commissioned in 2007 for Gypsy and Travellers and 100 Gypsy and Travellers participated in the survey. A separate single report was also available for the Gypsy and Traveller Health and Wellbeing Survey where the findings of the Gypsy and Travellers were compared against the ‘main survey’ cohort. Further information can also be found under Gypsy and Travellers within Vulnerable Groups.

The full reports and questionnaire are available on request. Please contact us on [email protected].

Qualitative research was also undertaken in 2007 following the survey, and the reports are given within Other Local Surveys and Qualitative Research under Surveys within Tools and Resource

Hull’s Adult Health and Wellbeing Survey 2003

This postal survey was undertaken by the public health team who were working at the time across four Primary Care Trusts (two of which were in Hull). A commentary report and a summary report are available for Hull overall, but the main summary tables were produced for Eastern Hull and West Hull Primary Care Trusts separately.

The full reports and questionnaire are available on request. Please contact us on [email protected].

Other Surveys and Qualitative Research

A number of Young People Health and Wellbeing Surveys have also been completed in Hull involving secondary school pupils. Further qualitative research – asking about their health, wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours – has also been undertaken in Hull involving young people and adults.

As the majority of the adult surveys involved those involved 16+ years, there are some findings relating to younger people and young adults in the Adult Health and Wellbeing Surveys too.

Updates

This page was last updated / checked on 19 March 2025.

This page is due to be updated / checked in March 2026.