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This report presents the main findings from the 2007 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in Ireland (SL��N 2007). This is the third and largest SL��N survey and the first to include those participating in languages other than English and Irish. Previous studies were carried out in 1998 (Friel et al, 1999) and 2002 (Kelleher et al, 2003). Both these reports are available on the website www.healthpromotion.ie/publications. The main SL��N 2007 survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews. There were two sub-group studies involving (i) measurement of height, weight and waist circumference(sub-group of younger respondents) and (ii) a detailed physical examination (sub-group of older respondents). The overall aim was to provide nationally representative data on the general health, health behaviours and health service use of adults living in Ireland. The two sub-group studies aimed to provide vital information regarding the health risk profiles of younger and older adults. The themes of SL��N 2007 were selected based on current national policy and service priorities. Key documents were consulted, including the National Health Strategy, Quality and Fairness (Department of Health and Children, 2001); the National Health Promotion Strategy (Department of Health and Children, 2000); and the Chief Medical Officer���s 4th Annual Report (Department of Health and Children, 2005). Further consultation across the research consortium, funder and Advisory Group produced a prioritised and manageable set of items to assess. A key requirement was to provide a core set of national population health data that would enable comparison within study sub-groups (gender, age and social class), across health service regions within the Health Service Executive (HSE), with other key comparison populations (particularly Northern Ireland) and with previous SL��N surveys. The SL��N 2007 survey was funded by the Health Promotion Policy Unit of the Department of Health and Children. The survey and analyses were carried out by the SL��N 2007 Consortium, consisting of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), the National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC), the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

Is ��ard at�� sa tuarasc��il seo na pr��omhthortha�� �� Shuirbh�� ar N��sanna Maireacht��la, Dearca�� agus Coth�� in ��irinn 2007 (SL��N 2007). Is �� seo an tr���� suirbh�� SL��N agus an suirbh�� is m�� agus is �� seo an ch��ad suirbh�� a ��ir��tear teangacha eile ann seachas B��arla agus Gaeilge. Rinneadh staid��ir eile roimhe seo in 1998 (Friel et al, 1999) agus 2002 (Kelleher et al, 2003). T�� an d�� thuarasc��il seo le f��il ar an l��ithre��n gr��as��in www.healthpromotion.ie/publications. Rinneadh pr��omhshuirbh�� SL��N 2007 tr�� agallaimh duine le duine. Bh�� dh�� staid��ar foghr��pa ann (i) tomhas airde, me��chain agus iml��ne coime (foghr��pa freagr��ir�� n��os ��ige) agus (ii) scr��d�� fisici��il n��os mionsonraithe (foghr��pa de fhreagr��ir�� n��os sine). Is �� a bh�� mar aidhm leis an staid��ar sonra�� n��isi��nta maidir le sl��inte ghinear��lta, iompra��ochta�� sl��inte agus ��s��id seirbh��s�� sl��inte a bhaili�� i measc daoine f��sta a bhfuil c��na�� orthu in ��irinn. Dh��righ staid��ar an d�� fhoghr��pa ar eolas r��th��bhachtach maidir le pr��if��l�� riosca sl��inte daoine f��sta n��os ��ige agus n��os sine a shol��thar. Roghna��odh t��ama�� SL��N 2007 bunaithe ar thosa��ochta�� reatha n��isi��nta beartais agus seirbh��se. Baineadh ��s��id as pr��omhch��ip��is�� lena n-��ir��tear an Strait��is N��isi��nta Sl��inte, Ardchaighde��n agus Cothroime (An Roinn Sl��inte agus Leana��, 2001); an Strait��is N��isi��nta um Chur chun Cinn na Sl��inte (An Roinn Sl��inte agus Leana��, 2000); agus ceathr�� Tuarasc��il Bhliant��il an Phr��omh-Oifigigh Mh��ochaine (An Roinn Sl��inte agus Leana��, 2005). Tr�� chomhairli��ch��n breise leis an gcuibhreannas taighde, chuir an Gr��pa Maoini��ch��in agus Comhairleach sraith m��reanna tosa��ochta agus sol��imhsithe a bh�� le meas le ch��ile. Pr��omhriachtanas ba ea sraith pr��omhshonra�� sl��inte den daonra n��isi��nta a shol��thar ��� sonra�� a chiall��dh go mbeadh s�� ind��anta compar��id a dh��anamh laistigh d���fhoghr��pa�� staid��ir (inscne, aois agus aicme sh��isialta), sna r��igi��in seirbh��se sl��inte laistigh d���Fheidhmeannacht na Seirbh��se Sl��inte (HSE), agus le pr��omhdhaonra�� compar��ide eile (go h��irithe Tuaisceart ��ireann) mar aon le suirbh��anna SL��N a rinneadh roimhe seo. Ba �� an tAonad Coth�� Sl��inte agus Beartais sa Roinn Sl��inte agus Leana�� a mhaoinigh SL��N 2007. Ba �� cuibhreannas SL��N 2007 a rinne na suirbh��anna agus an anail��s. I measc chomhalta�� an Chuibhreannais bh�� Col��iste R��oga na M��inle�� in ��irinn (RCSI), Col��iste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh (UCC), Ollscoil na h��ireann, Gaillimh (O��G) agus an Institi��id Taighde Eacnama��ochta agus S��isialta (ESRI).

Introduction: Throughout the developed world the ageing of populations has become a matter of increasing attention both for policy-makers and practitioners. Indeed, as far back as the late 1990s, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) advised that for many nations population ageing was a key policy priority, not least because of its ‘implications for pensions, health care and long-term care’ (OECD, 1998, p. 15). Though changing population demographics may appear to be the most clearly quantifiable aspect of such concerns, they represent only one side of the coin. For example, within many nations increased female participation in education and labour markets in conjunction with socio-cultural changes have contributed to a reduction in the supply of carers, a dilution of family ties and an increase in single person households. As a consequence, the availability both of formal and informal carers has diminished at the same time as the demands on care systems have risen (European Commission, 2008; Pavolini & Ranci, 2008; OECD, 2005; Kroger, 2003). non-peer-reviewed

This report presents the main findings on the mental health and social well-being of Irish adults from the 2007 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN 2007) in Ireland, commissioned by the Department of Health and Children. The report is part of a series based on the main 2007 survey (Morgan et al, 2008), which for the first time included questions on the mental health and social well-being status of the Irish adult population. Respondents were asked a series of questions on different aspects of mental health, including positive mental health and well-being, common mental health problems and clinical symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety disorder. A number of questions were also included on perceived stigma, quality of life, deliberate self-harm, loneliness, social support and social well-being. The SLÁN 2007 survey involved 10,364 respondents (62% response rate), aged 18 and over, with sub-studies on body size and a detailed physical examination. The sample is representative of the general population in Ireland when compared with Census 2006 figures and was further weighted to match the Census for analysis. SLÁN 2007 is, therefore, the largest national survey to date on the extent of both positive and negative mental health in the Irish adult population. This report presents the findings on mental health and social well-being and considers the influence of key socio-demographic variables, including age, gender, social class, education, income, residential location, employment status and marital status. The relationships between mental health, social well-being and self-rated health are also examined.

This report presents the main findings on self-reported medically attended injuries in Irish adults from the 2007 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN 2007) in Ireland, commissioned by the Department of Health and Children. The report is part of a series presenting in-depth findings from the SLÁN 2007 Main Report (Morgan et al, 2008). The SLÁN 2007 survey involved face-to-face interviews in the homes of 10,364 randomly selected adults, aged 18 years and over, with sub-studies on body size and a detailed physical examination. There was a 62% response rate to the survey. The sample is representative of the general population in Ireland when compared with Census 2006 figures and was further weighted, for the purpose of analysis, to match population characteristics. SLÁN 2007 is the largest national health survey among the Irish adult population to date and also the largest to study the extent of injuries among the adult population. As part of the main survey, respondents were asked a series of questions on injuries requiring medical attendance (i.e. injuries resulting in medical treatment), on the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of injury events, the mechanism that caused the injury and the severity of the injury. This report presents the findings from SLÁN 2007 on injuries in Ireland and considers the influence of such key socio-demographic variables as age, gender, social class, education, income, residential location, employment status and marital status.

Background: The combination of four protective lifestyle behaviours (being physically active, a non-smoker, a moderate alcohol consumer and having adequate fruit and vegetable intake) has been estimated to increase life expectancy by 14 years. However, the effect of adopting these lifestyle behaviours on general health, obesity and mental health is less defined. We examined the combined effect of these behaviours on self-rated health, overweight/obesity and depression. Methods: Using data from the Survey of Lifestyle Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN) 2007 (), a protective lifestyle behaviour (PLB) score was constructed for 10 364 men and women (>18 years), and representative of the Republic of Ireland adult population (response rate 62%). Respondents scored a maximum of four points, one point each for being physically active, consuming five or more fruit and vegetable servings daily, a non-smoker and a moderate drinker. Results: One-fifth of respondents (20%) adopted four PLBs, 35% adopted three, 29% two, 13% one and 2% adopted none. Compared to those with zero PLBs, those with four were seven times more likely to rate their general health as excellent/very good [OR 6.8 95% CI (3.64-12.82)] and four times more likely to have better mental health [OR 4.4 95% CI (2.34-8.22)]. Conclusions: Adoption of core protective lifestyle factors known to increase life expectancy is associated with positive self-rated health, healthier weight and better mental health. These lifestyles have the potential to add quality and quantity to life. peer-reviewed

non-peer-reviewed