Category: Northern
Ireland
Date: 24.05.2005
Printable version
91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster is set to reveal the
secrets and lives of 30 and 60-year-olds in Northern Ireland as part
of its 30th birthday celebrations.
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The station announces the findings of a unique
study of lifestyle and attitudes today (Tuesday May 24 2005) across
a day of programming, starting with a special report on Good
Morning Ulster.
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Listeners will then be invited to give their views in
a one-off phone-in show, co-hosted by Stephen Nolan and
Linda McAuley, which will focus on some of the more
controversial findings of the survey - including views on sex, love
and the family.
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Later in the day, TalkBack and Evening
Extra will be analysing the generational attitudes to work
and politics.
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Stephen Nolan said: "This survey really lifts the lid
on a whole range of issues and attitudes across the generations, and
Linda and I are really looking forward to hearing what listeners think
about some of the findings.
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"I am sure that there will be the usual mix of
strong views, searing honesty and quite a few laughs."
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Fitting in with the party mood, the survey reveals that
feelings of happiness across the generations are extremely high.
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Eight in ten people aged 30 and nearly nine out of ten
60-year-olds report that their lives are full of joy.
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And for all of the respondents, family relationships
are more important to their happiness than income and debt.
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Good friendships are also essential to nearly eight
out of ten of both age groups.
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Health is one of the biggest indicators of contentment
for 60 year-olds (82 per cent), compared to 69per cent for
30-year-olds; while work is one of the major priorities
for the younger group - with only 45per cent of 60-year-olds agreeing.
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One of the surprises of the survey is the similarity
of lifestyles across the ages. It reveals that in Northern Ireland,
25 is the average age to have a child for the 30-year-old respondents
who are parents - and just two years later for 60-year-olds.
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They agree on 19 as the age to fall in love, and on
21 as the age to move out of home.
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Major differences emerge across the generations in what
they find to be distasteful or morally wrong.
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Twice as many 60-year-olds believe sex on a first date
is wrong (74/30 percent) and using pornography is wrong (79/36 per cent).
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Nearly four in ten 60-year-olds believe sex before marriage
is wrong (37 per cent) but only eight per cent of 30-year-olds agree.
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Susan Lovell, Managing Editor, Radio Ulster, said:
"This year we are celebrating the 30th birthday of Radio Ulster and
this survey marks how much society, and the station, has developed and
grown over the last three decades.
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"We live in a diverse and culturally rich environment
and we seek always to reflect our audiences' tastes and needs."
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Radio Ulster commissioned MORI Ireland to conduct the
survey as part of a range of events and special programming throughout
May to celebrate the station's 30th birthday.
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Two hundred and fifteen 30-year-olds and 104 60-year-olds
were surveyed using a combination of online and telephone interviews
between February and May 2005.
