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
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