Scottish Longitudinal Study
Development & Support Unit

Other Outputs

PhD THESIS

Air pollution, health, mortality, and ethnicity: analysis of individual-level longitudinal and census data linked to high-resolution spatial data from the United Kingdom

Abed Al Ahad, M (2023) University of St Andrews Research Repository 15 November 2023. [SLS]

Other information: Abstract of thesis. Embargo: Thesis restricted in accordance with University regulations. Restricted until 27th October 2028

Available online: https://doi.org/10.17630/sta/652
Output from project: 2019_006

Factors associated with using a care home for older people living in Scotland: analysis using linked administrative data

Corby, H. (2021) Thesis abstract submitted to the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh. [SLS]

Output from project: 2017_002

PhD thesis: The effect of workplace mobility on air pollution exposure and its inequality in the UK

Liska, T (2021) The University of Edinburgh 27 November 2021. [SLS]

Available online: https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/38389
Output from project: 2018_001

Social Gifting and Islands: A study of remoteness and wellbeing in Scotland

Halliday, K. (2021) The University of Edinburgh, PhD Thesis, 30 November 2021. [SLS]

Available online: https://hdl.handle.net/1842/38534
Output from project: 2015_015

A longitudinal investigation of commuting practices in Northern Ireland 1991-2011: Choice and decision making

Feehan, Claire (2018) Queen's University, Belfast [SLS][NILS]

Output from project: 2015_009

Assessing the role of geographical access to health-care in colorectal cancer diagnosis and survival in Scotland

Saeed, N. (2018) University of St Andrews [SLS]

Output from project: 2016_001

Association between socioeconomic factors and cancer risk: a population cohort study in Scotland (1991-2006)

Sharpe, K.H. (2018) PhD Thesis, 'Socioeconomic inequalities in lung and upper aero-digestive tract cancer incidence in Scotland', Chapter 4. University of Glasgow [SLS]

Other information:
Chapter aims:

To explore the association of cancer incidence with demographic, social and five individual socioeconomic variables (economic activity, occupational social class, educational attainment level, car ownership and household tenure) variables through novel data linkage between the Scottish Cancer Registry and the Scottish Longitudinal Study.

To assess more finely the socioeconomic factors associated with cancer incidence through: i) Examining the consistency of the relationship between area and individual SES measures associated with cancer incidence; ii) Explaining whether any single measure was particularly associated with cancer incidence; iii) Assessing whether the area measure was fully explained by the individual measures; and iv) Exploring whether there were any synergistic effects between the area deprivation measure and each individual SES variable; and v) assessing temporal relationship between the SES measure and cancer incidence.

Available online: PhD Thesis,
Output from project: 2009_005

Inequalities in mortality amenable to healthcare intervention in Scotland

Yates, MA (2018) 18 October 2018. [SLS][CALLS]

Other information: Mortality amenable to health care intervention are premature deaths which, theoretically, should not occur in the presence of timely and effective health care. As Scotland has a universal health care system, where health care is freely provided at the point of access to all residents, there should be no socioeconomic inequalities in rates of amenable mortality (AM). However, gradients in rates of AM have been found in many countries, using various measures of socioeconomic position. The routine monitoring of rates of AM, and subgroups of amenable conditions, will contribute towards an indicator of health care performance. Records of all deaths occurring between 1980 and 2013, records of hospitalisations for amenable conditions, and mid-year population estimates were used to calculate rates of age standardised mortality and incident hospitalisations respectively. Absolute and relative inequalities in both rates for the total population were estimated using an area based measure of material deprivation, the Carstairs index. Individual level measurements of socioeconomic position, such as educational attainment, were used to measure inequalities in rates of deaths for a sample of the population, allowing for some comparison with European countries. Rates of AM in Scotland and England were compared in two natural experiments in the final two chapters, aiming to explore the direct and indirect effects of policy changes on health care systems abilities to effectively prevent amenable deaths. Rates of AM in Scotland have been found to be decreasing for both men and women. Mortality rates within two of the three subgroups of amenable conditions have also declined, with the third having too few deaths to comment on trends. The rates of incident hospitalisations of amenable conditions between 1996 and 2013 have remained relatively stable, suggesting that rates of AM may be reflecting improvements in the detection, treatment, and management of amenable conditions. Absolute and relative inequalities in mortality rates were largest when estimated using educational attainment, whilst occupational measures produced the smallest inequalities. The rate of decline in rates of AM slowed in Scotland, relative to England, following devolution, however the attempts to adequately control for differing levels of deprivation were unsuccessful. The final chapter saw step increase in rates of AM in England, compared to Scotland, following the publication of a White Paper for the Health and Social Care Act - however, this failed to reach statistical significance. This thesis concludes that the continued study of amenable mortality in Scotland is worthwhile, given that mortality rates continued to decline against stable rates of incident hospitalisations, and relative inequalities in mortality rates were found to be increasing, despite decreasing absolute inequalities. The monitoring of inequalities in rates of AM provides the potential for weaknesses in the provision and delivery of care to be identified and corrected.

Available online: Link
Download output document: Full Text Available (PDF 2MB)
Output from project: 2015_001

Forests, health and inequalities in Scotland: a longitudinal approach

Noall, J (2018) PhD Thesis University of Edinburgh 12 December 2018. [SLS]

Other information: Abstract Increasing international evidence shows that forests may enhance mental and physical health by providing opportunities for relaxation, physical activity, social interaction and through reducing air pollution. Studies also suggest that forests may have a role in reducing socioeconomic health inequalities by weakening the links between poverty, deprivation and poor health. Knowledge surrounding the relationship between forests, health and inequalities is limited as no national studies have been carried out, and findings to date are based on cross-sectional data. This thesis addresses these research gaps by examining associations between forests, health and inequalities for the whole of Scotland over a 20-year period. Firstly,changes in the socio-spatial distribution of forests in Scotland between 1991, 2001 and 2011 were assessed. FollowingFollowing this, relationships between different long-term patterns of individuals’ forest access and subsequent health outcomes were examined. The influence of cumulative forest access throughout life and levels of forest access at particular life stages on later mental health were also studiedstudied. Lastly, ionsinvestigations into whether changes in forest access were associated with changes in general health were carried out. In order to understand whether forests might reduce socioeconomic health inequalities, each of the empirical analyses considered differences between sociodemographic groups. Measures of forest access in 1991, 2001 and 2011 were created in ArcGIS for all postcodes in Scotland and linked to a sample of individuals in the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS). The SLS contains linked census records collected in 1991, 2001 and 2011 for approximately 274,000 people (5.3% of the population). The study sample included those who had: complete data;; were present in all three censuses;; were aged 18+ in 1991;; and lived in private residences on the Scottish mainland (n=97,658). Administrative health records from 2011 to 2016,, including the prescribing of antidepressants and hospital admission data were linked to the sample members. A synthetic estimation of forest use based on SLS members’ characteristics and forest user information in the Scottish People and Nature Survey (SPANS) was also used to examine whether visiting forests explained the associations between forests and general health. Statistical techniques included Latent Class Growth Modelling (LCGM), hybrid effects models and tests for mediation. Over the study period, geographical access to forests improved throughout Scotland. However, there wasevidence that individuals with low socioeconomic status in 1991 were more likely to have worse long-term patterns of forest access than those with higher socioeconomic status. There was evidence that these worse trajectories of forest access had implications for later health; individuals with better forest access trajectories had reduced risk of having worse health at the end of the study period. Women with a greater accumulation of forest access were less likely to attend a mental health outpatient clinic or be prescribed antidepressants during 2011-2016. For men and those without qualifications who had improved forest access between time points, the risk of having a long-term illness reduced, compared to those whose forest access did not change. Findings also suggested that better forest access across the life course and at particular stages in adulthood may be linked to reduced inequalities in mental health between men and women and between those with higher and lower socioeconomic status. Forest use partially explained the association between forest access and general health but there was also evidence of a direct effect of forest access on mental health. The key contribution of this thesis was the linkage of spatial environmental data to census and administrative health records for individuals and the application of a longitudinal approach. The thesis also contributes to the international literature by providing new insights into the causal mechanisms though which forests may influence health across the life course and how these may vary between social groups. The research has provided important evidence for policy makers such as Forestry Commission Scotland, about the social value of forestry in Scotland (and potentially elsewhere) and the opportunities that maintaining and enhancing forest access could have for improving population-level mental health and reducing health inequalities. In particular, those designing interventions to encourage forest use among disadvantaged groups should consider how interventions could be targeted at those with low individual-level socioeconomic status as well as deprived areas. Future research should use life course approaches to better specify the ways in which forests may support health for those with specific mental illnesses,, and where possible consider the effect of forest access in childhood as well as adulthood on later life health outcomes.

Download output document: Thesis PDF (3MB)
Output from project: 2015_013

What predicts entry into formal care for people aged 65+ in Scotland? A census linkage study

Corby, D.H. (2017) Masters Dissertation, School of Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK. 31 August 2017. [SLS]

Other information:
Masters dissertation

Output from project: 2017_002

Amenable mortality by individual measures of socioeconomic status

Yates, M. (2017) Doctoral thesis, Chapter 6. University of Glasgow. [SLS]

Output from project: 2015_001

Family formation in Scotland: The role of social norms, housing, and partnership

Ernsten, A. (2016) Doctoral thesis, Univ of St Andrews, UK, 26 March 2016. [SLS]

Output from project: 2013_009

An examination of the characteristics of cancer patients in Fife, Tayside and The Lothians

Dale, H. (2016) Doctoral thesis, Univ of St Andrews, UK, 29 February 2016. [SLS]

Other information:
PhD thesis

Output from project: 2010_002

Does area regeneration improve residents’ health and well-being?

Archibald, D.G. (2014) University of St Andrews, Dept of Geography & Geosciences [SLS]

Other information: PhD thesis

Output from project: 2009_008

Rethinking deindustrialization and health across time and space

Kampanellou, E. (2014) Doctoral thesis, Univ of St Andrews, UK, 1 July 2014. [SLS]

Other information:
PhD thesis

Output from project: 2012_001

Population ageing: What are the implications for healthcare expenditure in Scotland?

Geue, C. (2012) University of Glasgow, Institute of Health and Wellbeing. [SLS]

Other information: PhD Thesis, viva passed 2012

Output from project: 2009_011

A Price Not Worth Paying: Studying the effect of worklessness on mortality for individuals in Scotland

Clemens, T. (2011) University of St Andrews, School of Geography & Geosciences. [SLS]

Other information: PhD, viva passed 2011

Output from project: 2008_005

Childbearing and Low Fertility in Scotland

Ralston, K. (2011) University of Stirling, School of Applied Social Science. [SLS]

Other information: PhD, viva passed 2011

Output from project: 2008_004

Outcomes and Coping Following Parental Bereavement

Harper, M. (2010) University of Stirling, Dept of Psychology. [SLS]

Other information: PhD, viva passed 2010

Output from project: 2008_003

OTHER

Air pollution, health, mortality, and ethnicity: analysis of individual-level longitudinal and census data linked to high-resolution spatial data from the United Kingdom

Abed Al Ahad, M (2023) University of St Andrews Research Repository 15 November 2023. [SLS]

Other information: Abstract of thesis. Embargo: Thesis restricted in accordance with University regulations. Restricted until 27th October 2028

Available online: https://doi.org/10.17630/sta/652
Output from project: 2019_006

Case study using SLS and SQA data: inequalities in school leavers’ labour market outcomes: does subject choice matter?

Duta, A. & Iannelli, C. (2017) Introduction to using linked administrative data ​ for social and health research, Edinburgh, UK, 27 Nov - 1 Dec 2017 [SLS]

Available online: https://www.adrn.ac.uk/understand-data/courses/eventitem?eventid=5089
Output from project: 2013_013

Using the Longitudinal Studies for research on health and health inequalities

Cox, F.M. & Marshall, A. (2017) CALLS Hub Thematic Guide 1. 28 April 2017. [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information:
Extract:

In this guide we introduce the UK census-based Longitudinal Studies (LSs) and highlight their potential for research on health and health inequalities. We provide practical guidelines on how to access the data, the health information and correlates of health that are available in each LS and we explain why the LSs are such an important resource for health researchers.

The core of the guide focuses on 4 case studies that highlight the latest research on health using the longitudinal studies across the UK. These case studies cover a diverse set of substantive research themes including the effect of migration on spatial health inequalities in the UK and the impact of childhood disability on educational outcomes.

Available online: https://calls.ac.uk/guides-resources/thematic-guides-webinars/using-the-longitudinal-studies-for-research-on-health-and-health-inequalities/

Using the Longitudinal Studies for research on internal migration

Prazeres, L., Cox, F.M. & Marshall, A. (2017) CALLS Hub Thematic Guide 2. 1 November 2017. [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information:
Extract:

The purpose of this guide is to introduce the UK census-based Longitudinal Studies (LSs) and highlight their potential for conducting research on internal migration. It provides practical guidelines on how to access the data, the migration information and correlates that are available in each LS and explains why the LSs are such an important resource for migration researchers.

The guide focuses on 3 case studies that illustrate recent research on internal migration using the longitudinal studies across the UK. These case studies cover a range of areas in migration research from occupational mobility to residential segregation.

Available online: https://calls.ac.uk/guides-resources/thematic-guides-webinars/using-the-longitudinal-studies-for-research-on-migration/

Scientists have your data!

Clemens, T. (2017) Edinburgh Science Festival, 3 April 2017 [SLS]

Available online: https://adrn.ac.uk/about/news/newsitem?newsid=4992
Output from project: 2007_011

An introduction to the UK Census-based Longitudinal Studies

Cox, F.M. (2017) CALLS-Hub Webinar, 'Using the UK Longitudinal Studies for research on internal migration', 15 Nov 2017 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information:
Talk begins at 1m 30sec

Available online: https://calls.ac.uk/guides-resources/thematic-guides-webinars/using-the-longitudinal-studies-for-research-on-migration/
Download output document: Presentation slides (PDF 2MB)

Migration, occupational mobility, and regional escalators in Scotland

van Ham, M., Findlay, A., Manley, D. & Feijten, P. (2017) CALLS Hub Webinar, 'Using the UK Longitudinal Studies for research on internal migration', 15 Dec 2017 [SLS]

Other information:
Talk begins at 10m 47sec

Available online: https://calls.ac.uk/guides-resources/thematic-guides-webinars/using-the-longitudinal-studies-for-research-on-migration/
Download output document: Presentation slides (PDF 610KB)
Output from project: 2007_005

School subject choices and social class differences in entry to higher education – comparing Scotland and Ireland

Klein, M., Iannelli, C., Smyth, E. (2016) Models of Secodary Education and Social Inequality - an international comparison 233-248 Edward Elgar Publishing ISBN: 978 1 78536 7267 [SLS]

Other information: Contribution to a book online

Available online: 10.4337/9781785367267
Output from project: 2013_013

A Blueprint for Fairness: Final Report of the Commission on Widening Access

Iannelli, C. (2016) Scottish Government, 1 March 2016. ISBN: 978-1-78652-094-4 [SLS]

Other information:
Prof Iannelli's response to the consultation is reflected in the report's recommendations.

Available online: Link
Download output document: Full report (PDF 312kB)
Output from project: 2013_013

An introduction to the Longitudinal Studies for health researchers

Marshall, A. (2016) CALLS-Hub webinar, 13 December 2016 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information:
Talk begins at 1m 25s mark in video

Available online: https://calls.ac.uk/guides-resources/thematic-guides-webinars/
Output from project: 0300411

An exploration of educational outcomes for children with disabilities

Cox, F. & Marshall, A. (2016) CALLS Hub webinar. 13 December 2016 [SLS]

Other information:
Talk begins at 13m 45s in video

Available online: https://calls.ac.uk/guides-resources/thematic-guides-webinars/
Output from project: 2015_010

Governance and data access an interactive approach

Heeney, C., Clemens, T., Williamson, L., Dibbens, C. & Carsley, S. (2015) ESRC Festival of Social Science, 13 November 2015 [SLS]

Other information:
Event details:

The reuse of data from existing health records is increasingly important in social health research. As potential subjects of health data audience members have a stake in understanding the mechanisms and motivations for accessing and using administrative records on the population for research.

This event explores ethics and governance of social health research interactively. Audience members will participate in decisions on accessing data from various sources to answer a specific population health question. We will use the real example of the relationship between low birth weight and pollution and access to data from the Scottish Morbidity Databases and hospital records and linkage with the Scottish Longitudinal Survey (SLS). At each stage the audience will be asked which type of data would be required and which governance structure would fit best. We will use the comparison between audience expectations and current ethics and governance frameworks as a spring board for discussion.

Available online: Link
Output from project: 2007_011

An Introduction to Analysing Longitudinal Study Data Using the SYLLS Synthetic Spine Dataset, Practical exercise using the spine data

Dennett, A. (2015) RPubs, 19 May 2015. [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information:
SLS project page
ONS LS project page
NILS project page

Available online: RPubs,
Output from project: 2013_012 (SLS), 30158 (ONS LS), 079 (NILS)

An Introduction to Longitudinal Analysis using the National Synthetic LS Spine, Practical session

Dennett, A. (2015) CeLSIUS Workshop on using the ONS LS, UCL, London, UK. 18 June 2015 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information:
SLS project page
ONS LS project page
NILS project page

Output from project: 2013_012 (SLS), 30158 (ONS LS), 079 (NILS)

An Introduction to Longitudinal Analysis using the National Synthetic LS Spine, Practical workshop

Dennett, A. (2015) British Society for Population Studies, Univ of Leeds, UK, 7 - 9 September 2015 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Available online: Link
Output from project: 2013_012 (SLS), 30158 (ONS LS), 079 (NILS)

ONS LS Synthetic Data Spine

Dennett, A. (2015) 19 June 2015. [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information:
SLS project page
ONS LS project page
NILS project page

Available online: https://calls.ac.uk/guides-resources/synthetic-ls-data/
Output from project: 2013_012 (SLS), 30158 (ONS LS), 079 (NILS)

Introducing the 3 LSs

Shuttleworth, I. (2014) SPiNe launch event, NESTA, London, UK. 7 March 2014 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Download output document: Presentation slides (PDF 3.3MB)

Impact from the LSs

Shelton, N. (2014) SPiNe launch event, NESTA, London, UK. 7 Mar 2014 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Download output document: Presentation slides (PDF 501KB)
Output from project: 0300411

Potential developments and data linkages in the LSs

Dibben, C. (2014) SPiNe launch event, NESTA, London, UK. 7 March 2014 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Download output document: Presentation slides (PDF 5MB)

Introducing the three LSs

Dibben, C. (2014) SPiNe launch event, New Register House, Edinburgh, UK. 29 April 2014 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Download output document: Presentation slides (PDF 5.7MB)

Synthpop: Generating synthetic versions of sensitive microdata for statistical disclosure control. R package version 1.0-0

Nowok, B., Raab, G. & Dibben, C. (2014) 18 August 2014. [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information:
SLS project page
ONS LS project page
NILS project page

Available online: Link
Output from project: 2013_012 (SLS), 30158 (ONS LS), 079 (NILS)

Social support for men who have cancer

Dale, H., Ozakinci, G., Adair, P. & Humphris, G. (2014) British Psychological Society Press Release, 4 December 2014. [SLS]

Available online: British Psychological Society Press Release,
Output from project: 2010_002

Psychological problems in men experiencing cancer

Dale, H., Ozakinci, G., Adair, P. & Humphris, G. (2014) Science Daily, 4 December 2014. [SLS]

Available online: Science Daily,
Output from project: 2010_002

Psychological problems in men experiencing cancer

Dale, H., Ozakinci, G., Adair, P. & Humphris, G. (2014) Medical News Today, 4 December 2014. [SLS]

Available online: Medical News Today,
Output from project: 2010_002

Psychological problems in men experiencing cancer

Dale, H., Ozakinci, G., Adair, P. & Humphris, G. (2014) Oncology Nurse Advisor 4 December 2014. [SLS]

Available online: Oncology Nurse Advisor
Output from project: 2010_002

Joint hands-on training session for the three UK Census Longitudinal Studies

Shelton, N., Stuchbury, R., Rosato, M., Shuttleworth, I. & Williamson, L. (2013) BSPS Annual Conference, University of Swansea, UK, 9 - 11 Sept 2013 [SLS][ONS LS][NILS][CALLS]

Other information: Workshop.

Available online: Link
Download output document: Conference programme & abstracts (PDF 1.4MB)
Output from project: 0300411

Tenure change in Scotland

Freeke, J. (2013) Making the Case for the Social Sciences No. 8: Longitudinal Studies. Academy of Social Sciences: London, 1 June 2013. [SLS]

Other information:
Extract:

In the past 30 years there have been major shifts in housing tenure in Scotland, resulting initially from housing regeneration as well as 1980 legislation enabling council tenants to buy their homes, and more recently a doubling of the proportion of households living in private rented housing.

Jan Freeke, a senior planning analyst working for Glasgow City Council, researched recent tenure change using data from the Census of population, the Scottish Household Survey and the Scottish Longitudinal Study to better understand the demographic factors underlying changes in demand.

Available online: Link
Download output document: Full Report (PDF 393KB)
Output from project: 2007_009

Study examines mortality in bereaved parents

NHS Choices, featuring Harper, M., O'Connor, R.E. & O'Carroll, R.C. (2011) NHS Choices - Behind the Headlines. 8 September 2011. [SLS]

Available online: NHS Choices - Behind the Headlines.
Output from project: 2008_003

The effect of neighbourhood housing tenure mix on labour market outcomes: a longitudinal investigation of neighbourhood effects

featuring van Ham, M. (2009) Radio interview, Kingdom FM, Scotland, UK. 18 September 2009 [SLS]

Output from project: 2007_006

The effect of neighbourhood housing tenure mix on labour market outcomes: a longitudinal investigation of neighbourhood effects

featuring van Ham, M. & Manley, D. (2009) Newspaper interview, Dundee Courier, Scotland, UK. 18 September 2009 [SLS]

Output from project: 2007_006

Explore the variables held in the SLS data dictionary.

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