Australian Health Performance Framework: PI 3.3.1–Proportion of adults with very high levels of psychological distress, 2019

Collection and usage attributes

Derived from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, with higher scores indicating a higher level of distress; lower scores indicate a low level of distress.

A 10 item scale is currently employed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in general population collections (i.e. K10), while a modified 5 item scale is included in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population collections (K5).

Total scores from the K10 scale will be grouped as follows:

• 10–15 Low
• 16–21 Moderate
• 22–29 High
• 30–50 Very high.

Total scores from the K5 scale will be grouped as follows:

• 5–11 Low/moderate
• 12–25 High/very high.

Presented as a percentage. Rates are directly age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population. 95% confidence intervals and relative standard errors calculated for rates.

100 × (Numerator ÷ Denominator)

Number of people aged 18 and over with a very high distress score as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.

Population aged 18 and over.

2007–08, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2017–18—State and territory, by:

• Sex.

2007–08, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2017–18—Nationally, by:

• Remoteness (Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS 2016) Remoteness Structure)
• 2016 Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) quintiles and deciles
• Disability status (not reported).

2007–08, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2017–18—Grouped high/very high levels of psychological distress—State and territory, by:

• Remoteness (ASGS 2016 Remoteness Structure)
• 2016 SEIFA IRSD quintiles
• Disability status (not reported).

2011–13, 2014–15, 2017–18—Grouped high/very high levels of psychological distress—State and territory, by:

• Indigenous status (see below)

Some disaggregations may result in numbers too small for publication.

2017–18 data for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population are not yet available.

Most recent data available for the 2019 Australian Health Performance Framework reporting: 2017–18 (total population, non-Indigenous: NHS); 2014–15 (Indigenous only: NATSISS).

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) or National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) data may be used for analysis, dependent upon which survey is most recent. For 2011–13 proportions by Indigenous status, data for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population were obtained from the NATSIHS 2012–13. Data elements used for the 2012–13 NATSIHS were similar to those listed above for the 2014–15 NATSISS. Data from the 2017–18 NATSIHS are not yet available.

The modified K5 scale from the NATSISS/NATSIHS was used with the corresponding questions from the AHS/NHS to compare the psychological distress levels of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples.

Representational attributes

N[NN].N

Indicator conceptual framework

Data source attributes

Accountability attributes

Australian Health Performance Framework

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Source and reference attributes

Australian Bureau of Statistics

ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2012. Information Paper: Use of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale in ABS Health Surveys, Australia, 2007–08. ABS cat.no. 4817.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS. Viewed 27 September 2019, https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/
ProductsbyCatalogue/B9ADE45ED60E0A1CCA256D2D0000A288?OpenDocument.

Relational attributes