Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.03.1983, Side 240
RQALilti
As can be seen from table 1 the average number of problems the respondents
have reported themselves to have is 2.6 in the total material. It is note-
worthy that there are no statistically significant differences in the number
of problems reported by the different age groups. The numtier of problems do
not increase by age. If any age group has a larger number of problems in com-
parison with others it is the age group 46-55 years.
From table 1 it can, hcwever, be seen that there is a statistically signifi-
cant difference between sexes as to the number of problems reported. The
women have in average a larger number of reported problems in conparison with
the men. There are also differences between the socio-economic groups. The main
result is, that the lower socio-economic groups have a larger number of prob-
lems. It can also be seen, taht respondents with socialistic political orien-
tation reported themselves to have a larger number of problems in conparison
with respondents of other political preferences.
Continuing to study how the respondents in average believe the number of prob-
lems to be in various age-groups, it has been found that there is a general
pattern of over-estimation of number of problems. As can be seen from table 2,
the greatest over-estimation concerns the elderly.
The estimated number of problems is for the elderly much larger than what the
elderly themselves report. The analysis also show, that there are certain groups
who more than others over-estimate the number of problems for the elderly. Those
who over-estimate the number of problems for the elderly are the younger re-
spondents, the respondents with higher education, respondents in higher office
positions, the students, respondents working within health care or within
educational professions. All this can be seen in table 3.
Table. 2: NumbeA o& pAoblem aeeoAcUng to a -t>elh~)iepo>it oot> eompaAed to
numbeA o<5 pAoblemi ej>túnated by othe>U>.
average number of problems according to self-report average number of problems estimated by others difference
Young respondents, 15-25 years 2,8 4,0 -1,2
Grcwn-up and middle-aged pecple, 16-64 years 2,6 4,2 -1,6
Old pecple, 65-75 years 2,5 5,8 -3,3
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