ScotCen

Findings from the latest GUS study on #PeerSupport #YouthRelationships 📊#GUSDatabite Read more from the Life at 17 report: growingupinscotland.org.uk/scottish-gover…

📢 REGISTER NOW: UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies @CLScohorts is hosting a consultation in #Edinburgh on 30 April 2026, to shape the Millennium Cohort Study Age 27 Sweep. #Researchers, #PolicyMakers, and professionals are invited to influence data collection priorities regarding families, work, health and other issues. Find out more and register here: cls.ucl.ac.uk/events/mcs-age…

Liam McArthur MSP welcomed research showing 81% of Scots support allowing those with a terminal illness to request help to die. news.stv.tv/scotland/surve…

📣 New British Social Attitudes findings published today Public support for higher taxes and increased public spending has fallen sharply since 2022, while political divisions over the role of the state have widened to levels not previously seen. Just 36% now say government should increase taxes and spend more on health, education and welfare, the lowest level since 2013 and down 19 percentage points in three years. Attitudes are increasingly divided by party support, with just 21% of Conservative and Reform supporters backing higher taxes and spending, compared with 52% of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green supporters. Elsewhere, priorities within welfare are shifting, and while attitudes towards immigration have become more sceptical in recent years, they remain less negative than a decade ago. The survey also finds continued majority support for assisted dying, with 79% saying it should be allowed.

Season’s greetings from everyone at ScotCen🎄 Thank you to our clients, suppliers and colleagues and to the thousands of people who take part in our research and make our work possible.

New Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) data shows sharp declines in how people in Scotland view both their standard of living and the NHS. In 2023: 🟣83% said living standards had fallen 🟣69% felt the NHS had worsened

WEBINAR: “Life at age 17 – latest findings from the Growing Up in Scotland study. The session will share new findings on education pathways, online activity, political participation, mental health, and overall life satisfaction among 17-year-olds in Scotland. natcen.ac.uk/events/life-ag…

New findings from the Scottish Social Attitudes survey show a shift in how secure people feel about their household income. In Scotland, the share saying they live comfortably has fallen from over half (54% in 2010) to just 41% in 2024, while those struggling has risen from 16% to 24%. Britain shows a similar pattern, highlighting how financial pressures have intensified across the UK.

If the long-running data shows that, objectively, we’re very similar to England, my question is: why do we keep believing we’re so different? What purpose does that belief serve for us, and for political debate? Ailsa Henderson, Professor of Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, talks about the insights from the Scottish Social Attitudes survey. Watch the full event ➡️ youtube.com/watch?v=hAnuP6…

Our research on young people’s use of nicotine pouches is featured in the Guardian. The study found that some teenagers in Scotland report nicotine rushes, sickness and fainting after using these unregulated products. theguardian.com/society/2025/n…

Young people in Scotland are engaging with nicotine pouches, products that are currently unregulated but set to be covered by new measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. New research by ScotCen is first in the UK to explore 14–16-year-olds’ awareness, access to and use of nicotine pouches. While pupils were knowledgeable about pouches, school staff were often unaware they were being used. The findings provide valuable insight as policymakers consider how best to protect young people through regulation and public health messaging. 📖 Find out more here: natcen.ac.uk/publications/y… 🌐 Read the article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ad…

At 17, life’s full of change - school, work, relationships, and plans for the future. Join our webinar to hear the latest from the @growingupinscot study, which has been following children’s lives since 2005. Researchers from @ScotCen will share findings, with a response from the Scottish Government and time for Q&A. 🔗 natcen.ac.uk/events/life-ag…

“Those interviewers will tell you that SSA was not the easiest sell on the doorstep but for many it became a firm favourite a real chance to hear first-hand what the nation thought about important policy issues” Paul Bradshaw, Director of the Scottish Centre for Social Research, discusses the Scottish Social Attitudes survey during our celebration of 25 years of Scottish Social Attitudes. Watch the full event ➡️youtube.com/watch?v=hAnuP6…

New research: Can Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) be an effective intervention for young people under 18? Our latest evaluation, led by the Scottish Centre for Social Research in collaboration with @StirUni and Children in Scotland, explores whether Scotland’s DBI can effectively support young people aged under 18. Findings show DBI offers valued, compassionate help that reduces distress and builds coping skills. Read more about the findings and recommendations here 👉 natcen.ac.uk/publications/v… #MentalHealth #YouthSupport #Evaluation #DBI #SocialResearch #Scotland

What’s life like at 17 in Scotland today? Join us on 25 Nov, 2pm for a webinar sharing the latest @growingupinscot findings - from education and wellbeing to relationships and future hopes. Register: natcen.ac.uk/events/life-ag…

🚨NEW REPORT: The latest Growing Up in Scotland report has been published today. It presents findings about the lives of 17 year olds, using data collected from Birth Cohort 1 (BC1) of the Growing Up in Scotland study (GUS).🧵

“Since 1999, the Scottish Social Attitudes survey has tracked public opinion almost every year. Alongside NatCen’s BSA, it shows trends across the UK.” Paul Bradshaw on the survey’s 25th anniversary. Watch event: youtube.com/watch?v=hAnuP6…

"I can see the direction of travel in Scotland and it's going to independence." A new report has found less than half of Scots trust the Scottish Government to do right by the country. The findings of the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey were raised at First Minister's Questions by the leader of the Scottish Conservatives. Russell Findlay also mocked John Swinney's new independence white paper. The First Minister said the survey indicates support for independence has risen 20% since 1999.