Understanding Society User Support

Many thanks for your enquiry. The Understanding Society team is looking into it and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We aim to respond to simple queries within 48 hours and more complex issues within 7 working days.

Best wishes,
Understanding Society User Support Team

Hello Luke,

We're currently developing a Health scale guidance, which we anticipate releasing later this year. Typically, we generate derived variables by combining all items from each scale questionnaire. You can recognise these variables by the "_dv" suffix at the end of their names. In the meantime, here are some scales used in the UKHLS.

1. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12)

• Variables scghq1_dv and scghq2_dv convert valid answers to 12 questions of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) to a single-scale.
• Use: scghqa, scghqb, scghqc, scghqd, scghqe, scghqf, scghqg, scghqh, scghqi, scghqj, scghqk, scghql

2. Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale

• Variable swemwbs_dv converts valid answers to the 7-item short version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale to a single-scale.
• Uses: scwemwba, scwemwbb, scwemwbc, scwemwbd, scwemwbe, scwemwbf, scwemwbg

3. Short-form generic measure of health status (SF-12)

• Variables: sf12mcs_dv and sf12pcs_dv convert valid answers to the origin questions into a single mental/physical functioning score.
• Use: scsf1 scsf2a scsf2b scsf3a scsf3b scsf4a scsf4b scsf5 scsf6a scsf6b scsf6c scsf7

4. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

• Variables for children aged 5 or 8: chsdqcp_dv, chsdqes_dv, chsdqha_dv, chsdqpp_dv, chsdqps_dv, chsdqtd_dv
• Variables for young people aged 10-15: ypsdqcp_dv, ypsdqes_dv, ypsdqha_dv, ypsdqpp_dv, ypsdqps_dv, ypsdqtd_dv
• Both scales convert valid answers to the strengths and difficulties questionnaire to a single-scale measuring conduct problems, emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, prosocial and total difficult score.
• Use for children: chsdqa, chsdqb, chsdqc, chsdqd, chsdqe, chsdqf, chsdqg, chsdqh, chsdqi, chsdqj, chsdqk, chsdql, chsdqm, chsdqn, chsdqo, chsdqp, chsdqq, chsdqr, chsdqs, chsdqt, chsdqu, chsdqv, chsdqw, chsdqx, chsdqy
• Use for young people: ypsdqa, ypsdqb, ypsdqc, ypsdqd, ypsdqe, ypsdqf, ypsdqg, ypsdqh, ypsdqi, ypsdqj, ypsdqk, ypsdql, ypsdqm, ypsdqn, ypsdqo, ypsdqp, ypsdqq, ypsdqr, ypsdqs, ypsdqt, ypsdqu, ypsdqv, ypsdqw, ypsdqx, ypsdqy

5. The Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ)

• Variables: psdqa_dv, psdqb_dv, psdqc_dv convert valid answers to the adapted parenting styles and dimensions questionnaire to a single scale measuring authoritative, authoritarian and permissive parenting scales.
• Use: ps1, ps2, ps3, ps4, ps5, ps6, ps7, ps8, ps9, ps10, ps11, ps12, ps13, ps14, ps15, ps16, ps17, ps18, ps19, ps20, ps21, ps22, ps23, ps24, ps25, ps26, ps27, ps28, ps29, ps30, ps31, ps32

6. Job-related Wellbeing Scale (Warr's scale)

• Variables: jwbs1_dv and jwbs2_dv convert valid answers to the 3-item questionnaire to a single scale measuring anxiety and depression.
• Use: depenth1, depenth2, depenth3, depenth4, depenth5, depenth6

7. Dyadic Adjustment Scale

• Variables: scdascoh_dv and scdassat_dv convert questions from the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) to a single scale measuring relationship cohesion and satisfaction
• Use: scparoutint, scparoutintw3, screlhappy, screlparar, screlparcd, screlpards, screlparei, screlparir, screlparks, screlparrg, screlparwt

Furthermore, UKHLS includes some questions regarding sleep and exercise that were sourced from The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). However, these questions do not form a measuring scale including all individual items. These are:

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

Variable	Label
hrs_slph	hours of actual sleep (hrs)
hrs_slpm	hours of actual sleep (mins)
med_slp	taken medicine to help sleep
slp_qual	quality of sleep overall
tslp_30m	cannot get to sleep within 30 mins
tslp_cgh	cough or snore loudly
tslp_wak	wake up in the night
tsta_awk	trouble staying awake during the day

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

Variable	Label
vday	7 days vigorous activities
vdhrs	Usual hours vigorous activities
vdmin	Usual minutes vigorous activities
vwhrs	Weekly hours vigorous activities
vwmin	Weekly minutes vigorous activities
mday	7 days moderate activities
mdhrs	Usual hours moderate activities
mdmin	Usual minutes moderate activities
mwhrs	Weekly hours moderate activities
mwmin	Weekly minutes moderate activities
wday	7 days walking
wdhrs	Usual hours walking
wdmin	Usual minutes walking
wwhr	Weekly hours walking
wwmin	Weekly minutes walking

For additional details on each specific variable, please refer to the Mainstage Variables search section.

I hope this information is helpful.

Best wishes,
Roberto Cavazos
Understanding Society User Support Team