Other Highlighted Environments
The Social Environment
The Social Environment of Leeds, Grenville and Lanark
There is a great deal of research that focuses on the relationship between social factors, such as socioeconomic status and social support, and that of illness and disease. If we ignore this relationship and the influence that social environments have on health, we would surely be missing opportunities to adopt broad-based societal interventions that could produce healthier populations. Families and friends provide emotional support in times of stress. They also provide people with basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter. The caring and respect that is shared in social networks, and the resulting sense of well-being may act as a buffer against stress and health problems.
Social Support
Social support networks are developed in a variety of communities, including schools and workplaces. Healthy schools provide children with supportive relationships among peers. Healthy schools can foster strong feelings of self worth and can help children develop positive social skills that will be advantageous in adulthood. Also, peoples' work-lives are increasingly viewed as important determinants of health. For example, work that offers little opportunity for growth and allows no control over one's work-life has been linked to negative health outcomes. On the other hand, work that provides opportunities for promotion and allows some sense of autonomy over work-live activities has been found to foster positive health outcomes. Furthermore, social supports are also important for older persons. As people retire from the workforce, their social networks may weaken, putting these individuals at risk of loneliness and a sense of isolation. However, high levels of social support in older adult life may help increase independent and enhance overall quality of life. In Leeds, Grenville and Lanark (LGL) almost 90% of residents 12 and older reported high levels of social support (see figure 1).
Education
Educational attainment is widely acknowledged as one of the most important social-economic factors in a community. Education is often positively associated with health status and healthy lifestyles.
According to the 1996 Census, over 80,000 residents 15 and older living in LGL (66% of all residents) had at least completed high school. Of these people, 30% attained a college diploma, and 4% a university degree. In LGL, the proportion of residents with grade 9 or less decreased between 1991 and 1996, from 10% to 8% (see figure 2).
At the same time, the proportion of residents who had progressed beyond a high school diploma and entered college increased from 1991 to 1996. In 1991, 24% of residents were attending or had a diploma from a post secondary non-university institution. In 1996, this proportion increased to 29% (see figure 3). The educational attainment profile is slightly different in LGL than in Ontario. In Ontario a larger proportion of the population had some university education. In contrast, in LGL, higher proportions of residents, had completed their schooling in high school and at a non-university post secondary education.
Families and Living Arrangements
Parents are the most important people in children's lives and families are the focus of child rearing. Overall, most families in LGL are husband-wife families with children living at home. These families account for 43% of all families (see figure 4). Throughout Canada, traditional family structures are changing. LGL has not been exempt from these changes, as the number of lone-parent families and common-law families increased between 1991 and 1996. For example, the number of lone-parent families increased from 9% in 1991 to 11% in 1996 (see figure 5). Furthermore, 80% of these families are led by single-parent women.
Average income varies by family type. According to the 1996 Census husband-wife families in LGL made $54,000 per year, while male lone-parent families made $32,000 and female lone-parent families made $27,000.
Data Definitions, Limitations & Uses
Data Sources
Other Indicators Related to Social Environments
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