Table 3.

Summary characteristics of interview/focus group participants (N 25)

	Percentage of sample
Characteristic	%	n
Age (years)
40–44	60	15
45–49	16	4
50–55	24	6
Gender
Male	40	10
Female	60	15
Ethnicity White Irish
Occupation	100	25
Professional	44	11
Skilled	16	4
Unskilled	40	10
Education*
Higher education	36	9
Further education	28	7
No formal qualifications	36	9
Marital status
Married	44	11
Co-habiting	4	2
Separated	4	2
Single	32	8
Widowed	4	2
Living
Urban	44	11
Rural	56	14
Children in household
Yes	44	11
No	56	14

^*Education: level of education obtained within a discipline or profession. Higher education = undergraduate/postgraduate degree: Further education = any study after secondary school that does not include higher education, such as higher national diploma, higher national certificate, apprentices for industry such as hairdressing, plumbing.