title: The impact of life events on adult physical and mental health and well-being: longitudinal analysis using the GoWell health and well-being survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is recognised that life events (LEs) which have been defined as incidents necessitating adjustment to habitual life either permanently or temporarily, not only have the potential to be detrimental to health and well-being, but research suggests some LEs may be beneficial. This study aimed to determine the individual and cumulative occurrence of LEs; and to establish their effect on health and well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic factors (gender, age and highest educational attainment), LE occurrence and self-reported health data were collected as part of the longitudinal GoWell community health and wellbeing survey (2008-2011). Self-reported health was measured using the SF-12 questionnaire for physical (SF-12 PCS) and mental health (SF-12 MCS) and the Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS) for well-being. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSSv21 and level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results showed that the sample was 61.6 % (n = 768) female; 20.4 % (n = 254) were aged 16-39 years, 46.1 % (n = 575) 40-64 years and 33.5 % (n = 418) were over 65 years; 68.8 % (n = 819) had no qualifications/Scottish leaving certificates, with the remaining 31.2 % (n = 372) having their highest educational qualification above Scottish leaving certificates. Health score means were 49.3 SF-12 mental health component score (SF-12 MCS); 42.1 SF-12 physical health component score (SF-12 PCS); and 49.2 WEMWBS. Participants experienced 0-7 LEs over a three year period, with the most common being: housing improvement (44.9 %), house move (36.8 %), health event (26.3 %) and bereavement (25.0 %). Overall, an increase in LEs was associated with a health score decrease. Five LEs (relationship breakdown, health event, bereavement, victimisation and house move) had negative impacts on SF-12 MCS and two (new job/promotion and parenthood) had positive impacts. For SF-12 PCS only three (health event, bereavement and housing improvement) had a negative impact. Six (health event, victimisation, bereavement, relationship breakdown housing move and improvement) had negative impacts on well-being and two (new job/promotion, marriage) had positive effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from the current study confirm LEs have both detrimental and beneficial impacts on health and well-being. Further research is required to disentangle the complexity of LEs and the ways they affect health and well-being.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural and Built Environment, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, UK. c.cleland@qub.ac.uk.|MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, UK. c.cleland@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.affiliation: Urban Studies, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Ade
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Centre for Population Health, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tannahill
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ellaway
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GoWell; Life events; Longitudinal analysis; Mental health; Mental well-being; Physical health