The saying “all things in moderation” has never been truer. Research has shown recently that the age old adage may have more merit than previously thought.
A study headed by NatCen (funded by the Department of Health in line with PM Cameron’s early focus on “not just GDP, but GWB – general well-being”) has evaluated data from a myriad of sources to find out what really makes our society happy on a subjective level. The findings for children are surprising.
The Millenium Cohort Study asked seven-year-olds about how much they felt happy or worried, comparing it against variables such as diet, exercise, affluency and family relationships. It would appear that those who ate sugary snacks between meals tended to be happier than those who ate an unbalanced diet for the majority, but also more so than those who had a blanket ban on unhealthy treats. Although one does have to ponder on the physical effect of the odd packet of chocolate buttons when compared to peer pressure in the playground at snack time.
In addition, children who were allowed to watch an hour or less of TV a day were more content than those who overloaded in front of the tube, and again more so than those without television. On this note, it would be intriguing to see what well-being levels look like when compared to computer and tablet use, as iPads, tablets and e-readers are now routinely given out within an educational environment, and indeed available through some schools to take home.
As could be predicted, children who enjoy PE tend to have the highest wellbeing. A fun exercise regime is a key part of primary education for instilling a life-long, positive relationship with physical activities and healthier life choices.
Those with a stable family background also fared better. A happy sibling relationship, parents who didn’t shout and units that had ‘family fun’ together on weekends generally seem to have less negatives and a more positive outlook on life.
The Children’s Society found that youths who felt their views were taken seriously and treated ‘fairly’ had higher self-esteem and in turn greater wellbeing. The research also suggested that children were not bothered about being extremely wealthy, merely having just enough to participate in peer activities and fit in with other’s socio-economic status. Children living in poorer households in poverty-stricken areas are twice as likely to have a low well-being than those who are not.
This is a dire finding for our county – according to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) for Lincolnshire by the Health and Wellbeing board, 12% of Lincolnshire’s population (using IMD 2010), now live within the 20% most deprived areas of England compared with 11% in 2007.
The JSNA for Lincolnshire’s report shows that some health and poverty related issues are lower than the national average in general, but achievement gaps with children from vulnerable groups against their peers is wider. These all have an effect on the happiness and well-being of our county’s children, but extensive measures have been put in place to combat such issues.
The recent data analysis seems to show a few positive steps, firstly that local and national government, along with think tanks, are looking at the wider picture when it comes to the welfare of future generations. Along with this, whether it be the occasional packet of crisps or focusing on inclusive ‘family time’ in the home, the key to a child’s happiness is formed not from magic, but of common sense.
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Kate Taylor is a sociologist, mother and tea and cake lover. When not working in sociological and marketing research with her company, Galilee Research, Kate can be found talking about political philosophy on the school run.
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Every day our dedicated Neighbourhood Teams work tirelessly to keep our communities safe across our Force area.
The Neighbourhood Policing Teams play a vital role in tackling many of the local issues that we know are important to you.
Between Monday 17 January and Sunday 23 January 2022, we will be showcasing the work that they do each day on our social media platforms and website.
This is part of a nationwide week-long event to bring awareness to all of the action which is happening every day within our local communities. Wellbeing and development will also play a large part in the week’s activities.
Chief Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Derek Hussain said: “Often, the neighbourhood teams are your first port of call and are the ones that many of you see the most.
“They are out in your area every day and are always available to raise concerns to and to offer crime prevention advice.
“Alongside community patrols, our officers can be seen executing drug warrants, attending to reports of concern, visiting places of education to provide advice and teaching, and much more.
“Throughout the week, our officers will be providing you with an inside look into the world of neighbourhood policing.
“Look out for the #NeighbourhoodPolicingWeek and #WeekOfAction hashtags to stay up to date with the latest, direct from your local officers.”
Do you know who your local policing teams is? You can find out more information, including about local priorities, here.
Officers are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic collision that occurred in Grimsby at around 1.15pm on Friday 14 January.
It is reported that a white SUV was in collision with a pushbike on Heneage Road at the junction with Sixhills Street.
The cyclist was taken to hospital to be treated for serious injuries.
If you witnessed the collision, or have information about the incident, you can call us on our non-emergency number 101, quoting log 259 of 14 January.
East Midlands Railway is brining in an emergency timetable from today with cuts to services in response to high levels of staff absences related to the Omicron outbreak.
The train operator says last minute cancellations are “incredibly frustrating” for passengers so it has decided to remove 4% of services from its timetable.
It comes as figures show an estimated 10% of rail staff were absent from work in the past month.
In a statement, East Midlands Railway, said: “EMR, like other rail operators and other industries, is experiencing high levels of COVID-related absence among its workforce which can impact our ability to provide a reliable timetable.
“In addition, government advice to work from home means passenger demand is also very low.
“Short notice cancellations are incredibly frustrating and something we are determined to avoid as much as possible.
“To help, we are removing approximately 4% of our services. This means we can protect those which are important for customers who are still travelling and provide a more reliable service.”
In Lincolnshire, the cancellations will affect the Newark North Gate to Lincoln services on Sundays at 11.40am and 7.45pm, and the Lincoln to Newark North Gate Sunday services at 11.06am and 7.15pm.
The 6.23pm Cleethorpes to Nottingham train will not run between Nottingham and Lincoln on Sundays and the 9.03am service from Grantham to Nottingham will not run on Sundays.
EMR says services will remain under constant review and changes will be made as needed. Passengers are advised to check for updates before setting out on their journey. The latest timetables can be found here.
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