4 THE FUTURE
As well as examining expectations for the future this chapter explores views on how much control young people feel they have over their lives.
4.1 Expectations of main activity in one year's time
Respondents were asked what they thought their main activity would be in one year's time, i.e. in spring 2006. Half (49%) thought they would be in full-time education and four in ten thought they would be in full-time employment. Three percent said they would probably be on a Government Training Programme ( GTP) and 4% thought they would either be doing something else or a combination of activities.
Females were more likely than males to think they would be in full-time education (53% compared with 45%), whereas males were slightly more likely to think they would be in full-time employment (45% compared with 34% among females). Females were also more likely to think they might be looking after children, the family or the home in a year's time.
Table 4-1 Expected activity in one year's time by gender
All respondents | Male | Female | Total |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time job | 45 | 34 | 40 |
|---|
Part-time job | 2 | 2 | 2 |
|---|
Full-time education | 45 | 53 | 49 |
|---|
Government training programme | 4 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 0 | 2 | 1 |
|---|
Travelling/ working abroad | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
Doing something else, or a combination of activities | 3 | 6 | 4 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 1613 | 1577 | 3190 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 1336 | 1863 | 3199 |
|---|
Respondents were also asked what they thought they would be doing in one year's time when they were first surveyed in 2003. The table below compares hopes for the future in 2003 with hopes for the future in 2005. In 2003 respondents were aged 16/17 and most expected to be in either full-time education (53%) or have a full-time job (25%) in spring 2004 when they would be 17/18. Since then there has been a significant increase in the proportion expecting to be in a full-time job (40% compared with 25%), coupled with a drop in the proportion anticipating that they will be in a full-time education in 2006 (53% in 2003 compared with 49% in 2005).
Table 4-2 Expected activity in one year's time: 2003 and 2005
All respondents | 2003 | 2005 |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 2 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time job | 25 | 40 |
|---|
Part-time job | 1 | 2 |
|---|
Full-time education | 53 | 49 |
|---|
Government training programme | 10 | 3 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 0 | 1 |
|---|
Travelling/ working abroad | 1 | 0 |
|---|
Other/ combination of activities | 6 | 4 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 5034 | 3192 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 5045 | 3199 |
|---|
When compared with previous cohorts the proportion of 19 year-olds expecting to be in education has increased slightly over the years. In 1999 42% expected to be in full-time education; this increased to 45% in 2001 and 49% in 2005 and was coupled with a decline, albeit small, in the proportion expecting to be in a full-time job.
Table 4-3 Expected activity in one year's time by gender
All respondents | 19 in 1999 | 19 in 2001 | 19 in 2005 |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time job | 44 | 44 | 40 |
|---|
Part-time job | 3 | 2 | 2 |
|---|
Full-time education | 42 | 45 | 49 |
|---|
Government training programme | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 2 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Travelling/ working abroad | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
Other/ combination of activities | 6 | 6 | 4 |
|---|
Don't know | - | 1 | - |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 2468 | 5003 | 3192 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 2479 | 5013 | 3199 |
|---|
The majority (77%) of those in employment at the time of the survey still anticipated being in work a year later, while around one in five (17%) of this group expected to have moved from employment into education. A majority of those on a GTP and those out of work thought they would have moved into work (97% and 63% respectively). Six percent of those out of work still expected to be so in one year's time. Of those in full-time education, around one in ten (11%) anticipated that they would still be in education in a year's time, while the majority (86%) expected to have moved into employment.
Table 4-4 Expected activity in one year's time by activity status
| Current main activity | Total |
|---|
| Expected activity in one year's time | Full-time job | GTP | Part-time work | Out of work | Full-time education | Looking after home/ family | Other |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | - | - | 1 |
|---|
In work | 77 | 97 | 57 | 63 | 11 | 24 | 30 | 44 |
|---|
In education | 17 | 0 | 36 | 19 | 86 | 10 | 48 | 49 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 1 | - | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43 | - | 1 |
|---|
Doing something else inc travelling/working abroad | 6 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 24 | 22 | 5 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 833 | 278 | 254 | 270 | 1443 | 51 | 46 | 3175 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 699 | 204 | 244 | 150 | 1799 | 38 | 51 | 3185 |
|---|
There is also evidence of a relationship between respondents' expectations and their parents' social class. Those from manual social class backgrounds were around three times as likely as those from professional backgrounds to expect to be in work in spring 2006 (60% of those with parents in lower supervisory and technical compared with 17% of those with parents in higher managerial and professional occupations), while those from higher managerial and professional social class backgrounds were more than twice as likely to think they would be in education in spring 2006 as those from routine and semi-routine background (80% and 34% respectively).
Table 4-5 Expected activity in one year's time by social class of respondents' parents
| Social class of parents | Total |
|---|
| Expected activity in one year's time | Higher managerial & professional | Lower professional & managerial/ higher technical & supervisory | Intermediate occupations & self-employed | Lower supervisory & technical | Routine & semi-routine |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 0 |
|---|
In work | 17 | 36 | 51 | 60 | 57 | 44 |
|---|
In education | 80 | 59 | 44 | 34 | 34 | 50 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|---|
Doing something else inc travelling/working abroad | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 335 | 1082 | 658 | 455 | 413 | 2943 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 448 | 1264 | 636 | 390 | 298 | 3036 |
|---|
Respondents without any children were much more likely to expect to be in education in a year's time than those with children (50% and 12% respectively). Around four in ten (42%) of those with children expected to be in employment and, as one might expect, they were much more likely to expect to be looking after the home, family or children in the future, than those with no children (28% and 0% respectively).
Table 4-6 Expected activity in one year's time by children
All respondents | Children | No children | Total |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | - | 1 | 1 |
|---|
In work | 42 | 45 | 45 |
|---|
In education | 12 | 50 | 49 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 28 | 0 | 1 |
|---|
Doing something else inc travelling/working abroad | 18 | 4 | 5 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 76 | 3105 | 3181 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 60 | 3129 | 3189 |
|---|
4.2 Expectations of main activity in four years' time
As well as being asked about what they expected to be doing in one year's time respondents were also asked what they thought they would be doing in four years' time i.e. spring 2009. Three-quarters expect to be in employment, 16% anticipated being in full-time education, 6% percent expected to be either doing something else or a combination of activities and 1% thought they would be out of work then. As was the case when respondents were asked what they thought they would be doing in one year's time, males were slightly more likely to think that they would be in employment (78% compared with 70% of females), whereas females were slightly more likely to think they will be in full-time education, doing something else or doing a combination of things (17% and 8% respectively).
Table 4-7 Expected activity in four years' time by gender
All respondents | Male | Female | Total |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time job | 78 | 70 | 74 |
|---|
Part-time job | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time education | 14 | 17 | 16 |
|---|
Government training programme | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|---|
Travelling/ working abroad | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Doing something else, or a combination of activities | 4 | 8 | 6 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 1614 | 1580 | 3194 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 1342 | 1866 | 3208 |
|---|
Taking into account that respondets will be aged 22/23 in spring 2009 it is not surprising that 49% expect to be in education in one year's time but only 16% expect to be so in four years' time. If respondets went straight into full-time further or higher education from school then most will have completed education and moved into employment by this age. In line with these expectations a much larger proportion of respondents expect to be in employment in four years' time (74% compared with 40% who expect to be in employment in one year's time).
Table 4-8 Expected activity in four years' time by gender
All respondents | One year's time | Four years time |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time job | 40 | 74 |
|---|
Part-time job | 2 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time education | 49 | 16 |
|---|
Work placement/ Government training programme | 3 | 1 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Travelling/ working abroad | 0 | 1 |
|---|
Doing something else, or a combination of activities | 4 | 6 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 3192 | 3194 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 3199 | 3208 |
|---|
When previous cohort expectations in fours years time (19 in 1999 and 19 in 2001) are compared with this years cohort (19 in 2005) there appears to be little difference in expectation. The only noticeable difference was a slight increase in the proportion of 19 year olds who expected to be in education (12% in 1999 and 2001, 16% in 2005).
Table 4-9 Expected activity in four years' time by gender
All respondents | 19 in 1999 | 19 in 2001 | 19 in 2005 |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time job | 75 | 75 | 74 |
|---|
Part-time job | 2 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Full-time education | 12 | 12 | 16 |
|---|
Government training programme | 0 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|
Travelling/ working abroad | 2 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Other/ combination of activities | 6 | 7 | 6 |
|---|
Don't know | - | 1 | - |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 2457 | 5003 | 3194 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 2469 | 5003 | 3208 |
|---|
Around eight in ten of those in employment or on a GTP at the time of the survey expected to be in work in four years time. However it is interesting to note that 10% of those in full-time work and 15% of those in part-time work expected to have moved from work into education by then. Around half (55%) of those looking after the home or family expected to be in employment in four years time, while one in ten still expected to be looking after the home or family and 16% thought they would be doing something else or a combination of activities, perhaps looking after the family alongside part-time work or education. It is also worth noting that 3% of those who were out of work at the time of the survey still expected to be out of work in four years' time.
Table 4-10 Expected activity in four years' time by activty status
All respondents | Full-time job | GTP | Part-time work | Out of work | Full-time education | Looking after home/ family | Other | Total |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 1 |
|---|
In work | 81 | 86 | 78 | 84 | 71 | 55 | 48 | 76 |
|---|
In education | 10 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 18 | 30 | 16 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
|---|
Doing something else inc travelling/working abroad | 7 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 7 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 839 | 276 | 269 | 245 | 1451 | 49 | 46 | 3175 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 704 | 202 | 243 | 148 | 1809 | 37 | 51 | 3194 |
|---|
As was the case with expectations for one year's time those coming from professional backgrounds were more likely to expect to be in education in four years' time than those from other class backgrounds. Around three in ten (29%) of those from higher managerial and professional backgrounds expected to be in education in spring 2009 compared with around one in ten (9%) of those with parents in routine or semi-routine occupations, whereas those from routine and semi-routine social class backgrounds were the group most likely to anticipate being in work in four years' time (84%).
Table 4-11 Expected activity in four years' time by social class of respondent parents
All respondents | Higher managerial & professional | Lower professional & managerial/ higher technical & supervisory | Intermediate occupations & self-employed | Lower supervisory & technical | Routine & semi-routine | Total |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
In work | 62 | 72 | 78 | 82 | 84 | 76 |
|---|
In education | 29 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 16 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
|---|
Doing something else inc travelling/working abroad | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 337 | 1082 | 658 | 454 | 416 | 2947 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 450 | 1265 | 639 | 389 | 300 | 3043 |
|---|
As has already been discussed respondents with children were less likely to expect to be in work or education in one year's time than those with none. The same was also true when asked what they thought they would be doing in four years' time. Three-quarters (76%) of those without children expected to be in employment in spring 2009 compared with 58% of those with children. One in ten of those with children expected to be looking after the family or home.
Table 4-12 Expected activity in four years' time by children
All respondents | Children | No children | Total |
|---|
Expected activity: | % | % | % |
|---|
Out of work | - | 1 | 1 |
|---|
In work | 58 | 76 | 76 |
|---|
In education | 12 | 16 | 16 |
|---|
Looking after child/family/home | 10 | 1 | 1 |
|---|
Doing something else inc travelling/working abroad | 20 | 7 | 7 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 74 | 3114 | 3188 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 58 | 3141 | 3199 |
|---|
4.3 Feelings of control over life
Respondents were given a series of statements relating to feelings of control over life and asked how much they agreed or disagreed with each of them. Views were largely positive; however, around one in eight felt they had little control over things that happen to them (13%). A similar proportion (15%) felt there was no way they could solve the problems they had. However, around seven in ten (68%) disagreed with the statement 'I often feel helpless in dealing with the problems of life.' A similar proportion disagreed with the notion that they were sometimes pushed around in life (71%). More than nine in ten respondents agreed that what happened to them in the future mostly depended on themselves (92%).
There was little variation in responses between males and females. Females were slightly more likely to agree that they felt helpless dealing with the problems of life (23% compared with 17% of male respondents) and slightly more likely to agree that they sometimes felt they were being pushed around in life (20% compared with 16% of male respondents).
Table 4-13 Feelings of control over life by gender
All respondents | Male | Female | Total |
|---|
% | % | % |
|---|
I have little control over things that happen to me |
|---|
Agree | 14 | 13 | 13 |
|---|
Disagree | 77 | 75 | 76 |
|---|
Neither | 10 | 12 | 11 |
|---|
There's really no way I can solve some of the problems I have |
|---|
Agree | 15 | 16 | 15 |
|---|
Disagree | 77 | 75 | 76 |
|---|
Neither | 8 | 10 | 9 |
|---|
I often feel helpless in dealing with the problems of life |
|---|
Agree | 17 | 23 | 20 |
|---|
Disagree | 72 | 64 | 68 |
|---|
Neither | 11 | 13 | 12 |
|---|
Sometimes I feel that I am being pushed around in life |
|---|
Agree | 16 | 20 | 18 |
|---|
Disagree | 73 | 68 | 71 |
|---|
Neither | 11 | 12 | 12 |
|---|
What happens to me in the future mostly depends upon me |
|---|
Agree | 92 | 92 | 92 |
|---|
Disagree | 4 | 3 | 4 |
|---|
Neither | 4 | 4 | 4 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 1615-1621 | 1589 | 3204-3210 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 1345-1348 | 1874-1875 | 3219-3223 |
|---|
Respondents who were out of work, looking after the family or doing something else ('other') at the time of the survey were the groups most likely to agree with the negative statements on control. Thirty-one percent of those looking after the home or family felt that they had little control over things that happen to them, compared with 14% among those in full-time work and only 10% of those in full-time education. Those looking after the home or family or doing something else were more than twice as likely to report feeling helpless in dealing with the problems of life than those in full-time employment or education (41% and 46% compared with 19% and 17% respectively). However it is also worth noting that those looking after the home or family were least likely to feel they were being pushed around, (14%) while those on GTPs were least likely to report feeling helpless in dealing with life's problems (16%). However, the evidence does suggest that on the whole those out of work or doing something else feel they have a lot less control over their lives than those in work, education or on a GTP.
Table 4-14 Feelings of control over life by activity status
All respondents | Full-time work | GTP | Part-time work | Out of work | Full-time education | Looking after home/ family | Other | Total |
|---|
% | % | % | % | % | | % | % |
|---|
I have little control over things that happen to me |
|---|
Agree | 14 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 31 | 31 | 13 |
|---|
Disagree | 76 | 73 | 74 | 62 | 81 | 51 | 62 | 76 |
|---|
Neither | 10 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
|---|
There's really no way I can solve some of the problems I have |
|---|
Agree | 14 | 14 | 17 | 33 | 12 | 33 | 22 | 15 |
|---|
Disagree | 77 | 79 | 70 | 60 | 80 | 53 | 72 | 76 |
|---|
Neither | 10 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 9 |
|---|
I often feel helpless in dealing with the problems of life |
|---|
Agree | 19 | 16 | 24 | 35 | 17 | 41 | 46 | 20 |
|---|
Disagree | 71 | 71 | 65 | 60 | 70 | 51 | 48 | 68 |
|---|
Neither | 11 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
|---|
Sometimes I feel that I am being pushed around in life |
|---|
Agree | 16 | 16 | 22 | 29 | 16 | 14 | 29 | 18 |
|---|
Disagree | 72 | 76 | 68 | 59 | 11 | 63 | 58 | 71 |
|---|
Neither | 12 | 9 | 19 | 12 | 73 | 24 | 13 | 12 |
|---|
What happens to me in the future mostly depends upon me |
|---|
Agree | 92 | 94 | 90 | 88 | 93 | 86 | 96 | 92 |
|---|
Disagree | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
|---|
Neither | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 4 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 836-841 | 282 | 270-271 | 252-255 | 1445-1451 | 51 | 45-46 | 3186-3193 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 704-708 | 207 | 245 | 150-151 | 1808-1811 | 38 | 51 | 3205-3209 |
|---|
There also appeared to be evidence of a relationship between parental social class and feelings of control over life. On the whole, those with parents from a professional social class background were more likely to feel that they had control over life than those from other social class backgrounds. For example, 7% of respondents from a higher managerial and professional social class background felt they had little control over things that happen to them, whereas 17% from a partially skilled or unskilled social class background felt the same. Those with parents in routine or semi-routine occupations were most likely to agree that there was no way they could solve some of the problems they have (22%); most likely to report feeling helpless in dealing with the problems of life (23%); and most likely to feel that they are sometimes pushed around in life (21%).
Table 4-15 Feelings of control over life by social class of respondents' parents
All respondents | Higher managerial & professional | Lower professional & managerial/ higher technical & supervisory | Intermediate occupations & self-employed | Lower supervisory & technical | Routine & semi-routine | Total |
|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % |
|---|
I have little control over things that happen to me |
|---|
Agree | 7 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 13 |
|---|
Disagree | 81 | 81 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 77 |
|---|
Neither | 12 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
|---|
There's really no way I can solve some of the problems I have |
|---|
Agree | 13 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 15 |
|---|
Disagree | 78 | 81 | 78 | 71 | 69 | 77 |
|---|
Neither | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
|---|
I often feel helpless in dealing with the problems of life |
|---|
Agree | 18 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 |
|---|
Disagree | 71 | 70 | 66 | 66 | 69 | 68 |
|---|
Neither | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 12 |
|---|
Sometimes I feel that I am being pushed around in life |
|---|
Agree | 15 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 18 |
|---|
Disagree | 73 | 73 | 69 | 71 | 67 | 71 |
|---|
Neither | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
|---|
What happens to me in the future mostly depends upon me |
|---|
Agree | 92 | 93 | 93 | 92 | 92 | 93 |
|---|
Disagree | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
|---|
Neither | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 338-340 | 1085-1088 | 663-666 | 453-456 | 412-417 | 2957-2963 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 450-452 | 1268-1271 | 642-644 | 390-391 | 299-300 | 3052-3056 |
|---|
There is also evidence of a significant relationship between feelings of control over life and whether respondents have children or not, with those that have children feeling less in control of their lives than those with none. For example, those with children were more likely to agree that there was really no way they could solve all the problems they had (26% compared with 15% of those with no children) and less likely to agree that what happened to them in the future mostly depended on themselves (84% compared with 92%).
Table 4-16 Feelings of control over life by children
All respondents | Children | No children | Total |
|---|
% | % | % |
|---|
I have little control over things that happen to me |
|---|
Agree | 21 | 13 | 13 |
|---|
Disagree | 76 | 61 | 76 |
|---|
Neither | 10 | 18 | 11 |
|---|
There's really no way I can solve some of the problems I have |
|---|
Agree | 26 | 15 | 15 |
|---|
Disagree | 62 | 76 | 76 |
|---|
Neither | 12 | 9 | 9 |
|---|
I often feel helpless in dealing with the problems of life |
|---|
Agree | 29 | 20 | 20 |
|---|
Disagree | 59 | 68 | 68 |
|---|
Neither | 12 | 12 | 12 |
|---|
Sometimes I feel that I am being pushed around in life |
|---|
Agree | 14 | 18 | 18 |
|---|
Disagree | 69 | 71 | 71 |
|---|
Neither | 17 | 11 | 12 |
|---|
What happens to me in the future mostly depends upon me |
|---|
Agree | 84 | 92 | 92 |
|---|
Disagree | 8 | 4 | 4 |
|---|
Neither | 8 | 4 | 4 |
|---|
Bases (weighted) | 72-73 | 3119-3127 | 3192-3199 |
|---|
Bases (unweighted) | 58 | 3151-3155 | 3209 |
|---|
4.4 Key points
- Around half (49%) of all respondents expected to be in full-time education in one year's time.
- While the majority (77%) of those in full-time employment still expected to be in work in one year's time it, 17% thought they would have moved into education by then.
- While those with parents in professional occupations were significantly more likely than other groups to expect to be in education in one year's time, those with parents in manual occupations were more likely to expect to be in employment by then. This was also the case when asked about expected activity in four years' time.
- Respondents with children were significantly less likely than those without children to expect to be in education in one year's time, and significantly more likely to be looking after the home or family.
- When asked what they expected to be doing in four years' time, three-quarters expected to be in work and 16% expected to be in full-time education.
- One in ten of those in full-time employment and 15% of those in part-time employment thought they would have moved into education in four year's time.
- Respondents with children were significantly less likely than those without children to expect to be in work in four years' time.
- On the whole respondents were fairly positive about the amount of control they had over their lives. Three-quarters disagreed with the statements 'I have little control over things that happen to me' and 'there is really no way I can solve some of the problems I have.'
- Those out of work, looking after the home and family or doing something else feel less in control of their lives than others.
- Respondents with parents in professional occupations felt they had more control over their lives than other groups.
- There was a significant relationship between feelings of control over life and whether a respondent has a child or not. For example, around a quarter (26%) of those with children felt there was no way they could solve all the problems they had compared with 15% of those without children.