General Health

Continuing from childhood, study members have been asked about accidents and hospital admissions. Visits to their GP have been recorded at some data collections, as well as days off work due to sickness in the previous year.

Early adult questionnaires did not ask a ‘general’ health question (with the exception of 1972 (26 years)). Instead, multiple indicators of health over the life course and especially information on recurrent illness were collected. In 1977 (31 years) study members were asked specifically about rheumatism and back pain and also headaches.

In 1982, 1989, 1999, 2014-16, 2022-23 and 2025 a more detailed list of ailments were asked about. In 1989 and 1999 study members were asked to recall their first and most recent experiences of the ailments. In 2014-16 study members were asked to recall all experiences of the ailments since 2006. In 2022-23 study members were asked to recall all experiences of the ailments since their 68^th birthday. In 2025 study members were asked to recall all experiences of the ailments since the age of 60.

For the 2006-10 postal questionnaire study members were asked to complete the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36: Ware and Sherbourne, 1992). This survey includes health concepts of: physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical health problems, role limitations due to personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health perceptions. It also includes a single item that provides an indication of perceived change in health.

Study members were also asked whether either of their parents had suffered from these ailments (at the 1982 and 1989 surveys).