Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
This is a qualitative data collection. Solo-living is a rapidly growing trend among adults in age groups typically associated with being partnered and parenting. From the perspective of theorists of social change, this is either evidence of social disintegration or, contradicting this concern, the consequences of greater democracy in personal life. In either case, the trend will impact on future demands for a range of social provision such as income support, pensions, health, housing and transport. This two-year study focused on particular sub-populations to examine the social capital and social integration, quality of life and future orientations of solos. It investigated differences in routes into and experiences and expectations of solo-livers by gender, urban-rural locality, and socio-economic circumstances. The selected sub-populations were solo-living men and women aged 25-44 from large urban areas, remote towns and rural areas. Scotland’s predominant rural land mass, its relatively higher rate of solo-living and lower fertility within the UK made it an obvious part of the UK in which to explore the trend in different types of urban and rural localities. The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) (available from the UK Data Archive under GN 33333) was used as a sampling frame to strategically select solo-living men and women from localities which maximise urban/rural comparison, following the SHS rural/urban classification (large urban areas, remote small towns, accessible rural and remote rural), and by gender. In-depth telephone interviews were carried out with 140 men and women. Of these, 35 took part in follow-up face-to- face interviews, mainly in their own home. Further information is available from the Rural and Urban Solo Living: Social integration, Quality of Life and Future Orientations ESRC Award web page.
Main Topics:
The main topics explored are: employment; education; health and disability; income/financial status; marital/parental status; route into solo living; nationality and country of birth; details of local area; social networks and activities; attitudes about solo living; future aspirations.
All cases in the SHS meeting the age criteria, household criteria (one person household) and living in large urban or remote small town or rural areas of Scotland and agreeing to follow up research were our potential sample. A total sample was sought of equal numbers of men and women urban and rural (combined remote small town and rural localities) Random sampling was conducted within each of these groups until the sample size was achieved. Note this involved a larger proportion of cases of women to achieve equal numbers of men and women and a larger proportion of cases of men.Interviewees for follow-up were selected in relation to themes identified as important in the literature and in the telephone interviews, as having one or more of the following criteria: poor health, financial dis/advantage, sexuality, parental status, social networks (rich/limited).
Face-to-face interview
Telephone interview
