Table 1 Mean level of psychological distress by age group and birth cohort

1980 to 1995

3.21 (2.96 – 3.46)^a

4.15 (3.85 – 4.46)

18 to 29

3.20 (3.05 – 3.35)

4.01 (3.84 – 4.19)

1970 to 1979

3.16 (2.97 – 3.35)

3.79 (3.60 – 3.98)

30 to 39

2.86 (2.71 – 3.01)

3.36 (3.22 – 3.51)

1960 to 1969

2.77 (2.63 – 2.91)

3.22 (3.08 – 3.36)

40 to 49

2.59 (2.45 – 2.73)

3.13 (2.99 – 3.26)

1950 to 1959

2.52 (2.38 – 2.67)

3.13 (2.99 – 3.28)

50 to 59

2.36 (2.22 – 2.50)

2.96 (2.81 – 3.12)

1940 to 1949

2.28 (2.14 – 2.42)

2.85 (2.69 – 3.01)

60 to 69

2.12 (1.96 – 2.29)

2.68 (2.51 – 2.85)

1930 to 1939

2.05 (1.87 – 2.23)

2.71 (2.54 – 2.88)

70 to 79

2.10 (1.88 – 2.32)

2.74 (2.55 – 2.93)

1920 to 1929

2.23 (2.00 – 2.47)

2.91 (2.68 – 3.14)

80 and older

2.48 (2.11 – 2.86)

3.16 (2.86 – 3.47)

1892 to 1919

2.39 (1.97 – 2.81)

3.11 (2.77 to 3.46)