4363.0 - National Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2014-15  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/07/2017   
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FINANCIAL STRESS

Definition

The Financial Stress indicator used in the 2014-15 NHS looks at the ability of a household to meet urgent financial commitments. This is determined through a question that asks whether people thought their household had access to, or the ability to raise, $2,000 within a week for something important. The inability to access funds in an emergency is considered a form of financial exclusion.

Population

Information was obtained for persons aged 18 years and over in the 2014-15 NHS, except for proxy interviews where the respondent is not answering for themselves.

Methodology

Adult respondents were asked if all of a sudden, they or their household had to get $2,000 for something important, could the money be obtained within a week. An example could be to pay unexpected bills. The households may get the money from any source e.g. they may draw on their savings, or they may get a loan from a financial institution or family. Responses options were 'yes', 'no' or 'don’t know'.

Data Items

The questionnaire, data items and related output categories for this topic are available in pdf/Excel spreadsheet format from the Downloads page of this product.

Please note that although the financial stress question was collected from the adult respondent, this item is presented on the household level due to it being a household characteristic.

Interpretation

Points to be considered in interpreting data for this topic include the following:

  • The phrase 'something important' was left for the respondent to interpret. If the respondent asked the interviewer for an example of 'something important' the interviewer was instructed to ask them to think of something important to them. An example could be to pay unexpected bills.
  • The respondent may get the money from any source, e.g. they may draw on their savings, or they may get a loan from a financial institution, family member or friend.

The reason for raising the money was left open to interpretation, with the object being to determine whether people thought their household had access to, or the ability to raise, these resources within a week for something important.

Comparability with 2011-12

Financial Stress data are considered directly comparable between the 2014-15 and 2011-12 NHS.

A number of other ABS surveys have collected this data, including the 2014 General Social Survey (GSS) and the 2014-15 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS), so comparisons may be possible with these surveys.