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Indicator: Participation in Life-Enriching Activities

Data and Data Discussion provided by Communities Count

Figure 1: Percent of Adults Participating in Life-Enriching Activities

Figure 2: Active Adults by Age, Income and Education

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Upstream Indicators
  •   Access to Fresh Food --- Although most of Seattle has geographic access to a grocery store, many of these grocery stores do not have sufficient variety and supply of affordable high-quality food for their customers. Between 2004 and 2006, prices rose faster for fresh food compared to processed commodity foods. However, insufficient data exists to determine a trend.   (view data graph)
  •   Land Use Mix --- The data for this indicator was taken from a snapshot study of King County.  
  •   Social Support --- There are no significant differences in average social support level by region and no significant changes between 1999 and 2007. However, there was a downward turn in Seattle and South King County from 2004 to 2007.   (view data graph)
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Downstream Indicators
  •   Prevalence of Overweight & Obese Adults --- The proportion of King County adults who are overweight and obese continues to climb. • The combined percent of overweight and obese adults has increased in each of the four regions of King County since 1994.  (view data graph)
  •   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)
  •   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)
  •   Physical and Mental Health Restrictions --- The percentage of King County adults with severe activity limitation increased between 1998 and 2007. This local finding is consistent with national trends. This local increase corresponds to worsening trends nationally.  (view data graph)
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Related Goals

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 2007, 84% of King County adults were "very active" or "somewhat active" in at least three different activities. The differences between 2007 and other years is not statistically significant.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

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

In 2007, 84% of adults were "very active" or "somewhat active" in at least three different activities. 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 ages 65 and older were less active than younger people. People with incomes of more than $50,000 participated more actively than people with incomes between $15,000 and $24,999. People who have a college education participated more actively in life-enriching activities than those with a high school education or less. Participation levels did not differ by gender or race/ethnicity.

Data Source and Limitations

The life-enriching activity measures were contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org) and are from the King County Community Health Survey, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2007. In 2007, this telephone survey of adults living in King County was conducted in Spanish as well as English for the first time. 2004 survey refinements may have contributed to the higher percentages of active adults by region in 2004 and 2007.

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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