Indicator: Participation in Life-Enriching Activities
Data and Data Discussion provided by Communities Count
- Upstream Indicators
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Access to Fresh Food --- “While some areas at risk of food insecurity are served by grocery stores, several other areas are not. In areas that are not well served by grocery stores, food insecure households likely face economic and social barriers as well as geographic barriers.” (Acting Food Policy Council, 2008). As this is a new indicator, trend data are not available. (view data graph)
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Adequate Food --- Previous surveys carried out from 1995 to 1999 showed a much lower rate of concern among King County residents over having enough food than did the 2003 survey findings on whether household food money lasted. As the survey questions differed, trend data are not available. In 2003, King County had a lower rate of food insecurity than the state average of 11.9%, and Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap Counties had rates equal to or higher than the average (Children’s Alliance, Hungry in Washington, 2006). (view data graph)
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Income Distribution --- In the two decades between 1979 and 1999, there was a shift of income away from the four lower income groups to the highest income group. In King County in 2004, the richest 20% of the population received more than ten times the income of the poorest 20%. (view data graph)
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Land Use Mix --- The data for this indicator was taken from a snapshot study of King County.
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Parent/Guardian Involvement in Child's Learning --- There were no significant changes between 2001 and 2004 in the King County or regional percentages. Eighty-four percent (84%) of King County families with young children either read or told stories to their young children every day in 2004. (view data graph)
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Perceived Neighborhood Safety --- The average level of perceived neighborhood safety among King County residents in 2004 was not significantly different from 2001. (view data graph)
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Physical and Mental Health Restrictions --- There has been an increase in the percentage of King County adults with 3 or more restricted activity days from 1993 to 2004. This local increase corresponds to worsening trends nationally. (view data graph)
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Quality Affordable Child Care --- In a 2004 countywide survey of households with children age 5 and under, 51% of the children in these households were reported to be in child care on a regularly scheduled basis. Meanwhile, 17% of school-age children (6-14) were in regularly scheduled child care. This information is based on a 2004 survey, in which questions were asked differently than in 2001, so the data are not comparable. (view data graph)
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Risk and Protective Factors in Youth --- Participation by King County schools in the Healthy Youth Survey has not been consistent and therefore limits what can be concluded. The percentages for King County 8th graders may or may not be representative. The 2004 figures show that most youth report having some level of certain protective factors in their daily lives. Many do not. (view data graph)
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Social Support --- There are no significant differences in average social support level by region and no significant changes between 1999, 2001, and 2004. (view data graph)
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Freedom from Discrimination --- Indicator information based on three surveys conducted in 1999, 2001 and 2004. There were no significant changes over the three survey years for the county. (view data graph)
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- Downstream Indicators
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Creative Class --- Trend data are not available. (view data graph)
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Happiness --- There are no data available at the local and regional level on happiness. (view data graph)
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Prevalence of Overweight & Obese Adults --- The proportion of King County adults who are overweight and obese continues to climb. In 2006, almost one in five adults were obese and more than half were overweight. Nearly nine percent of school age children were overweight. (view data graph)
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Stress --- There was no significant increase or decrease in the average stress score for adults in King County between 2001 and 2004. (view data graph)
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Suicide Rates --- Suicide death rates have fluctuated but, overall, decreased since the 1980s and hospitalizations for suicide attempts have declined since the early 1990s. (view data graph)
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Involvement in Community Organizations --- No trend data available at this time. Current information based on one survey. (view data graph)
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- Related Goals
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An adult with the time and resources available to participate in life-enriching activities and take advantage of lifelong learning opportunities is often a happier, healthier and more fulfilled individual.
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Sustainability Snapshot:
We need a balance between work and leisure. Taking time to participate in pursuits we enjoy helps to relieve the pressures of day-to-day life and develops our full potential as human beings. In the Central Puget Sound region, we are blessed with a variety of opportunities to explore our inner and outer worlds in depth.
Sustainability Trend:
In 2004, 85% of King County adults were "very active" or "somewhat active" in at least three different activities. The increases in this indicator between 1999 and 2001 and 2001 and 2004 are not statistically significant.
Data Discussion
- The Indicator Defined
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Percent of Adults Who Are Very or Somewhat Active in Three or More Life-Enriching Activities King County, 1999, 2001 & 2004. Participation in Life-Enriching Activities was measured in a survey of King county adults, in which respondents reported how actively they had participated in 9 different types of activities, ranging from personal participation in music or dance to community service or volunteering, in the past 30 days.
- Data Interpretation/Evaluation
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In 2004, 85% of adults were "very active" or "somewhat active" in at least three different activities. The increases between 1999 and 2001 and 2001 and 2004 are not statistically significant.
The three most popular types of activity were: 1) writing, reading books, book clubs and participating in theater, 2) learning about a new issue, and 3) sports and recreation activities.
The only statistically significant difference in participation among the regions is between Seattle residents whom were more active than South Region residents. (Figure 1)
People who are 65 years and older participate less in life-enriching activities than younger people. (Figure 2) People who have high education levels participate more actively in life-enriching activities than those with less education. People with incomes of more than $50,000 participate more actively than people with incomes between $15,000 and $24,999. - Data Source and Limitations
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The life-enriching activity measures were contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org) and are from the King County Community Health Survey, 1999, 2001 and 2004. In two instances, the 2004 survey questions were refined from the 2002 survey; music/dance and writing/reading/lectures were each split into two questions reflecting personal involvement vs. attending a performance or lecture. These refinements may have contributed to the higher active percentages in 2004.
The limitations of an English-only telephone survey include the following: a) people who do not have a telephone are missed, b) people who do not speak English do not participate, c) people who have less education and lower incomes tend to be under-represented.
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