Understanding Society User Support

I am unable to attach the document - so here is some additional detail. Please contact me if you would like me to send the document - it is very short and contains tables outlining the points below - so might be helpful!

The following points make me question the validity of c_sclfsat1:

Although there has been a drop in satisfaction with health, ratings of 'general health' appear to have remained relatively stable across waves (in addition to other potentially correlated measures such as psychological wellbeing (GHQ-12), measures of personal wellbeing, levels of disability).

When 'satisfaction with health' is cross-tabulated against ratings of 'general health', there is an unsual pattern. A very large propotion of those who are 'completely dissatisfied' or 'mostly disssatisfied' are also rating their health as 'excellent' or 'very good'.

The proportion in these categories are two/three times greater than what is seen when looking at the same assocation in waves 1 & 2 (which are consistant with each other).

Even if there has been a genuine drop in 'health satisfaction', I can't see a reason why the assocation with general health should be so different to what has been seen previously.

I hope that helps to clarify things.

I'd really appreciate this being looked into as this has attracted interest from government ministers who are curious to know what is causing a drop in health satisfaction. So far I am unable to explain it...

Many thanks for your help.

The variables I refer to:
Satisfaction with health: (c_sclfsat1 b_sclfsat1 a_sclfsat1)
General health rating: (c_scsf1 b_scsf1 a_sf1)

I can confirm that the data that were released are consistent with the data delivered to us. Spot checks of the original paper forms also came out negative.
We are carrying out research into potential mode effects. The findings can in the first instance be accessed here;
https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/research/publications/working-papers
See e.g.;
https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/research/publications/working-paper/understanding-society/2012-06

Jakob