7 numbers you should know this week

WITH a plethora of polls and a surfeit of studies out every week, it can be hard to keep track of what you need to know. So here is this week’s news in seven numbers, including how many teenaged girls are reporting psychological stress and why women prefer clean-shaven men.

1 in 5 Highlanders lack basic online skills

54 per cent of teen girls report psychological stress

A report has highlighted worrying changes in young women’s mental health.

The study by academics at the University of St Andrews showed that 15-year-old girls were almost twice as likely to report suffering from psychological stress, irritability, low mood and nervousness than 15-year-old boys.

Researchers looked at the health and well-being of those aged 11, 13 and 15 over the past four years, covering their feelings and habits, including those relating to family life, school, nutrition, physical activity, body image, substance use, sexual health and bullying. The proportion of young people who feel very happy reduced with age, from 59 per cent of 11-year-olds to 27 per cent of 15-year-olds.

What can be done about it? >>>

£2,900 being spent each year by lazy Scots

76 per cent of Scottish people spend an average of £360 a year on takeaway food because they are too busy or too lazy to cook.

The study reveals that Scots are spending £2,937.36 a year on basic errands including pet walking, laundry, home cleaning and car washing, because they are either too busy or feel too lazy to do it for themselves.

Spending an average of £244.78 a month, Scottish people would rather “spend more money and have more time” according to a survey by TopCashback.co.uk

What else do they spend it on? >>>

165 fewer offensive weapon crimes in Glasgow

In the past year, there has been a 14 per cent drop in crimes involving offensive weapons. Violent crimes and homicides have also dropped by 12 per cent and 3 per cent respectively in the past year.

Why has this number decreased? >>>

66 per cent of Scottish women prefer clean-shaven men

In a survey by Censuswide, the majority of women prefer a clean-shaven man to those with beards.

52 per cent said it was because they viewed beards as unhygienic, followed by 49 per cent who feared errant food stuck in facial hair.

It was found having a beard could also affect job prospects, with 54 per cent feeling men should be clean-shaven at an interview.

Are men with beards more likely to cheat? >>>

£7 million of damage caused by deer per year

With the clocks going back, drivers are urged to keep their eyes peeled for deer, as the peak time for collisions approaches.

Scottish Natural Heritage warned the risk of accidents involving deer and vehicles will rise as the change in the clocks means that rush-hour traffic will coincide with the time deer emerge to feed on grass verges.

What can be done about this? >>>

£623 is the average rent price in Edinburgh

Across the country there has been an average rise of 1.7 per cent in typical monthly rents, taking the average rent for a family in Scotland to £545.

The biggest rise was in the Highlands and Islands, with average rents up 6.4 per cent (or £34) since September 2014 to a new high of £572 per month.

Average rents in Edinburgh and the Lothians rose by 2 per cent year-on-year to £623 but fell 2.6 per cent to £555 in Glasgow.

What is the cost in the rest of the UK? >>>

1 in 5 Highlanders have never been online

17.9 per cent of adults in the Highlands have never been online, according to a report by Go ON UK.

It seems to be a “postcode lottery” in terms of location with 19 per cent of those households not able to access broadband speeds of over two megabytes per second.

Communities across the Highlands and Islands are the least connected within the UK.

What can be done about this? >>>