Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (formerly known as the ONS Opinions Survey or Omnibus) is an omnibus survey that began in 1990, collecting data on a range of subjects commissioned by both the ONS internally and external clients (limited to other government departments, charities, non-profit organisations and academia).Data are collected from one individual aged 16 or over, selected from each sampled private household. Personal data include data on the individual, their family, address, household, income and education, plus responses and opinions on a variety of subjects within commissioned modules. The questionnaire collects timely data for research and policy analysis evaluation on the social impacts of recent topics of national importance, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the cost of living, on individuals and households in Great Britain. From April 2018 to November 2019, the design of the OPN changed from face-to-face to a mixed-mode design (online first with telephone interviewing where necessary). Mixed-mode collection allows respondents to complete the survey more flexibly and provides a more cost-effective service for customers. In March 2020, the OPN was adapted to become a weekly survey used to collect data on the social impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the lives of people of Great Britain. These data are held in the Secure Access study, SN 8635, ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, Covid-19 Module, 2020-2022: Secure Access. From August 2021, as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions were lifting across Great Britain, the OPN moved to fortnightly data collection, sampling around 5,000 households in each survey wave to ensure the survey remains sustainable. The OPN has since expanded to include questions on other topics of national importance, such as health and the cost of living. For more information about the survey and its methodology, see the ONS OPN Quality and Methodology Information webpage.Secure Access Opinions and Lifestyle Survey dataOther Secure Access OPN data cover modules run at various points from 1997-2019, on Census religion (SN 8078), cervical cancer screening (SN 8080), contact after separation (SN 8089), contraception (SN 8095), disability (SNs 8680 and 8096), general lifestyle (SN 8092), illness and activity (SN 8094), and non-resident parental contact (SN 8093). See Opinions and Lifestyle Survey: Secure Access for details.
Main Topics:Each month's questionnaire consists of two elements: core questions, covering demographic information, are asked each month together with non-core questions that vary from month to month.
The non-core questions for this month were: Mortgage Arrears (Module 2): source of mortgage, if any, and whether behind in payments, and if so reasons for falling behind. Also question on whether bought from a Right to Buy scheme. Condom Use (Module 6): awareness of publicity about AIDS; use of condoms amongst the sexually active and its relation to publicity about HIV and AIDS. Attitudes to the Police (Module 10): contact with police in last 12 months and reasons for contact on most recent occasion; level of satisfaction with police handling of the matter; reasons for satisfaction/dissatisfaction; whether police have contacted respondent in last 12 months and if so why; whether respondent thinks police do a good job and whether view of police comes from own experiences or other sources. Food Safety (Module 19): frequency of dining out; frequency and consumption of take-away meals and food; attitude to risks of food poisoning from certain food outlets; knowledge of possible dangers of eating certain foods or not preparing foods properly; ownership and use of refrigerator and freezer, awareness of temperature refrigerator should be kept at and how often temperature checked; knowledge of government health warnings on salmonella and listeria; awareness of food safety issues. Overseas Transactions (Module 58): financial transactions (receipts or payments) made as a private individual in the past 12 months; value in pound sterling; currency of transaction; reasons for transaction. Sunburn (Module 75): skin type, whether tried to get a sun tan in last 12 months and whether expects to in next 12 months; attitude to sun tan on both adults and children; whether suffered from sunburn in last 12 months, how often, how severe and how it happened (respondents were also asked if they had children under 16 who had suffered from sunburn and if so, to what extent); sunscreen products used; awareness of campaign on exposure to sun; information sources on sun exposure; knowledge of skin cancer, risks and symptoms. Youth Services (Module 76): young people aged 11-25 were asked about leisure time activities; whether belongs or goes to a youth club, youth centre, youth group or youth organisation, or takes part in any other youth service activity; whether has ever belonged to a youth organisation; types of groups belongs to and who runs them; how often attends; any voluntary organisations belongs to; type of youth project takes part in and who runs it; whether has taken part in running a youth organisation; attitudes toward the Youth Service; reasons for attending/not attending.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
