(1) 37% of the surveyed had close interaction with neighbors. The older they got, the closer they became. 37.21% of those 15 and older had “very close interaction” and “fairly close interaction” with their neighbors, followed by “close interaction” (51.49%), and “not close interaction” (11.30%).The percentage of the “very close interaction” and “close interaction” group decreased by 5.10%, but the “not close interaction” and “not at all close interaction” groups increased by 3.51% compared with the survey four years ago. Genders played no noticeable difference for the behavior. However, the older they got, the closer they became with neighbors.
(2) People living in apartments tended to have less interaction with neighbors. The longer they lived in a place, the more interaction they had with neighbors. 50.53% of those living in traditional rural houses had more interaction with neighbors, followed by those lived in single or semi-detached houses (46.61%), and row houses (42.31%). Those who had the least interaction were living in apartment buildings: 5 stories and less (27.74%) and 6 stories and older (21.30%), indicating modern apartment buildings have significantly stifled interaction between neighbors. Furthermore, those who lived in the same place longer and were more content with their neighbors tended to have closer interaction with them.
(3) More interaction, more trust. 56.68% of the sample participants considered the majority of neighbors in the community trustworthy. When people become ill, 36.02% agree to neighbors coming to their homes to help. The closer they are, the more people considered neighbors trustworthy and the more they were willing to accept help. 65.97% agree to have neighbors keep an eye on their houses when they were away. 64.70% were willing to help their neighbors when they were sick. In other words, the closer they became, they were willing to accept help.
2. Participation in social groups and activities
(1) The social group to which the sample participants devoted the most time was religious groups. Last year (October 2002-September 2003), only 28.11% of the sample participants participated in one or more social-group activities. Over 70% didn’t participate in any social-group activities. In terms of time spent, 21.47% of time was spent in religious groups, followed by school (19.71%), social services and charitable groups (17.41%), occupational groups (15.87%), and recreation and sport groups (13.70%). There was a significant drop for people participating in occupational and political groups, whereas more participated in those of religious, school, social service, charity, medical, public hygiene, recreational and sport groups compared with four years ago. School, recreational and sport group have shown an appreciable increase in participation.
(2) Education background and income affected the time spent in participating social-group activities. The main reason why 71.89% of the sample participants didn’t participate in social group activities in the past year was “no spare time” (45.11%), followed by “no such inclination” (30.75%), and “economic considerations” (10.08%). Other factors include “no desirable group”, “no relevant information,” and “no accompanies.” The better educated had less time for social group activities and the less educated had less inclination to do so. Among those who didn’t join any group, “no spare time” was the main reason for those with full-time and part-time jobs, whereas “no such inclination” was for those unemployed. Those with higher income were more likely to have “no spare time” for social groups, whereas those with lower income didn’t participate in social groups mostly due to economic considerations.
(3) 24% of the sample participants participated in non-profit social activities, most of which were religious. 24.31% of the sample participants participated in non-profit social activity in the past year, a 7.52% drop from 31.83% four years ago. The largest percentage of participation was in “religion activities” (14.93%), followed by “charity activities” (14.70%), and “self-help activities” (2.48%). Although the participation of “self-help activities” was only 2.48%, it is 0.93% higher than four years ago (1.55%), indicating that the sample participants in general was more aware of their own right. 2.14% of the sample participants participated in political activities, significantly lower than 5.83% four years ago. The decrease in political participation is because there was a legislative election in December 1998, whereas no election was held between October 2002 and September 2003.
3. Volunteer work participation
(1) The participation rate for volunteer work was slightly higher than four years ago. 67% of those who did volunteer work did so on continuous and regular bases. In the past year (October 2002-September 2003), 14.50% of the sample participants participated in volunteer work, an increase of 1.19% over four years ago (13.31%). Those who did no volunteer work, 18.17% were interested in doing volunteer work in the future, a mere 0.10% increase over four years. 67.47% of the volunteers participated on continuous and regular bases, an increase of 28.38% over four years (39.09%).
(2) More students and homemakers were volunteers than four years ago. In the past year (2002), 14.98% of the employed did volunteer work, slightly higher than 13.84% of the unemployed. Among the employed doing volunteer work, 25.68% were government employees and 20.79% were self-employed. Compared with four years ago, the participation rate of employees shows the largest increase and that of the employer volunteers exhibits the sharpest drop. Among the unemployed, the homemakers had the highest participation rate (16.88%), followed by students (15.56%). Compared with four years ago, the number of student who did volunteer work increased by 5.44% and homemakers 4.17%, indicating students and homemakers were more willing to be volunteers.
(3) Religious volunteer work accounted for the largest share of all volunteer work, followed by environmental protection and community service. In the past year, religious volunteer work accounted for the largest share of all volunteer work (35.35%), followed by environmental protection and community service (30.45%) and school social services (22.33%). Compared with four years ago, religious volunteer work and environmental protection and community service show a drop in participation rate, 2.13% and 0.95%, respectively. On the other hand, school social service volunteers increased by 9.71%. Though most volunteers didn religious volunteer work as well as environmental protection and community service, the percentages have dropped slightly and the participation rate for school social services has increased.
(4) Helping others was the main motive for volunteers, the percentage being higher than four years ago. In the past year, the main motive for volunteers was to “help others” (45.35%), followed by “religious beliefs” (16.81%) and “making friends” (11.60%). Compared with four years ago, “helping others” increased by 8.83% whereas “religious beliefs” and “making friends” decreased by 5.83% and 0.49%, respectively. The reason for those participating in religious volunteer work was their religious beliefs. For others, the main motive was to help others.
4. Donations
(1) Nearly 38% of the sample participants donated with an average of NT$7,969 per person. In the past year (October 2002-September 2003), 37.76% of the sample participants made donations. Most made cash donations to non-profit organizations (26.55%), followed by goods (17.48%). The least common method was making purchases at non-profit fundraisers (1.79%). Compared with four years ago, goods donations decreased by 4.51%. In the past year, an average of NT$7,969 per person was donated either directly or indirectly (purchases at fundraisers) to non-profit organizations, families, and individuals. Donation amount between NT$1,000-NT$3,000 accounted for the largest percentage (39.01%), followed by NT$20,000 and over (8.61%). The average donation is NT$731 more than four years ago.
(2) Only 15% clearly knew how their donations were spent. Those who were planning to donate were more familiar how organizations spent donated money. Only 14.98% of those who donated to non-profit organizations in the past year clearly knew how their donations were being spent, 46.14% somewhat knew, and 6.00% knew nothing. Those who were planning to donate in the coming year knew better how their donations were being used than those who were not. 18.85% of those who made regular donations knew very well how their donations would be spent and the percentage dropped to less than 9% for those who were not planning to make regular donations and made no decision whether to donate. Compared with four years ago, the number of people who knew clearly or somewhat clearly how their donations were used decreased slightly, but those who knew vaguely and knew nothing have slightly increased.
(3) Over 60% of the survey participants were planning to make donations in the coming year. Over 40% made donations to organizations they support. 62.79% of those who made donations last year were planning to do so again in the coming year, 34.57% haven’t decided, and 2.64% have decided not to. Among those who made donations, 53.47% did regularly, of whom 42.72% made donations to organizations or individuals of their choosing and 10.75% had no preference. 46.53% of those who made donations didn’t donate regularly. Most donators making regular donations have preferred organizations or individuals.
Summary Table for Survey on Social Development Trends in Taiwan Area, 2003
Category
Statistics results
Previous survey (April 1999)
Present survey (Sep. 2003)
Comparison
(percentage)
1. Interaction between neighborhoods (1) Degree of interaction Very close
Fairly close
Close
Not close
Not at all close
9.90%
32.41%
49.89%
6.64%
1.15%
8.09%
29.12%
51.49%
9.62%
1.68%
-1.81
-3.29
1.60
2.98
0.53
(2) Degree of satisfaction
Very satisfied
Fairly satisfied
Satisfied
Not satisfied
Not at all satisfied
8.29%
43.02%
45.44%
2.67%
0.58%
6.49%
39.78%
50.41%
2.70%
0.62%
-1.80
-3.24
4.97
0.03
0.04
(3) Volunteer participation for public events in neighborhood Frequently
Sometimes
Never
6.94%
39.17%
53.88%
5.35%
30.88%
63.77%
-1.59
-8.29
9.89
(4) Provide assistance to neighbors
Frequently
Sometimes
Never
6.28%
41.06%
52.66%
5.00%
34.78%
60.22%
-1.28
-6.28
7.56
2. Social groups survey participants devoted the most time to Occupational organizations
Politic organizations
Religious organizations
Schools
Social service& charity organizations
Academic & cultural organizations
Medical & health organizations
Recreational & sport organizations
Clansmen and Alumni associations
Others
Summary Table for Survey on Social Development Trends in Taiwan Area, 2003 (continued-1/2)
Category
Comparsions
Previous survey (April 1999)
Previous survey (April 2003)
Comparison (percentage)
(2) Participation in social activities Never
Yes
Self-help activities
Charity activities
Religious activities
Political activities
68.17%
31.83%
1.55%
20.60%
22.47%
5.83%
75.69%
24.31%
2.48%
14.70%
14.93%
2.14%
7.52
-7.52
0.93
-5.90
-7.54
-3.69
3. Volunteer work (1) Participation Yes
Continual or regular
Non-continual or regular
Never
Inclined to participate later
Not inclined to participate later
13.31%
5.20%
8.11%
86.69%
15.67%
71.02%
14.50%
9.78%
4.72%
85.50%
15.54%
69.96%
1.19
4.58
-3.39
-1.19
-0.13
-1.06
(2) Volunteer service
Hospitals
Schools
Environmental protection and community
Social welfare
Culture, recreation, and sport
Emergency relief and communication
Religion
Political organizations
Occupational organizations
Other
Weekdays
Weekends
Summer & winter vocations
Uncertain
Other
22.29%
27.40%
2.38%
47.38%
0.55%
21.87%
25.28%
2.30%
49.94%
0.61%
-0.42
-2.12
-0.08
2.56
0.06
Summary Table for Survey on Social Development Trends in Taiwan Area, 2003 (continued-2/2)
Category
Statistics results
Previous survey (April 1999)
Previous survey (April 2003)
Comparison (percentage)
(4) Participation channel
Individual participation
Through other channels
22.82%
77.18%
21.60%
78.40%
-1.22
1.22
4. Donations (1) Money and goods Make no donation
Donation
Make purchases at non-profit fundraisers
Give money to individuals
Purchase goods from non-profit organization
Donate goods
57.73%
42.27%
33.84%
8.21%
1.70%
16.43%
62.24%
37.76%
26.55%
6.52%
1.79%
17.48%
4.51
-4.51
-7.29
-1.69
0.09
1.05
(2) Average donation or purchase
To non-profit organizations, families, and individuals
To non-profit organizations
To family and individuals
NTD$:7,238
NTD$:6,646
NTD$:4,567
NTD$:7,969
NTD$:7,192
NTD$:5,908
NTD$:731
NTD$:546
NTD$:1,341
(3) Donation amounts compared with the previous year (2001) Increased
About the same
Decreased
8.51%
84.93%
6.56%
8.36%
81.86%
9.79%
-0.15
-3.07
3.23
(4) Donation habits
Make regular donations
Make regular to specific organizations
Arbitrary donation recipients
Irregular donations
Plan to donate later
Don’t plan to donate later
Uncertain
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
53.47%
42.72%
10.75%
46.53%
62.79%
2.64%
34.57%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Directorate General of Budget Accounting and Statistics, Executive Yuan, R.O.C
