Health and health care; personal characteristics

Table explanation

Description topics

Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5),12 plus

The figures relate to the Mental Health Inventory 5 or ꞌMHI-5ꞌ. This is an international standard for a specific measuring of psychological distress, consisting of 5 questions. MHI-5 is actually an extract of ꞌShort Format 36ꞌ (SF-36), an elaborate international standard for measuring health. MHI-5 deals with questions related to how one felt during the last 4 weeks. The following questions were asked:
1. Did you feel very nervous?
2. Were you so down in the dump that nothing could cheer you up?
3. Did you feel calm and quiet?
4. Did you feel depressed and down?
5. Were you happy?

Every question has the following 6 answer categories: all the time, most of the time, often, sometimes, rarely, and never. The answer categories in positively worded questions of the MHI questionnaire (questions 3 and 5) have been consequently awarded the values 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0. The answer categories in negatively worded questions (questions 1, 2 ad 4) have been awarded the turned-down values. Next, per person the sum scores have been calculated and multiplied by 4, so that the minimum sum score of a person can be 0 (very unhealthy) and the maximum score 100 (perfectly healthy). A score of 60 or more means that a respondent has no psychological distress.

A score of less than 60 means that a person does have psychological distress.
Until 2023, instead of ‘psychological distress’, the term ‘poor mental health’ was used.

However, researchers at the Trimbos Institute determined in 2024 that the cut-off point of 60 as previously used was no longer sufficient for a number of reasons. The previous determination of the cut-off value of the MHI-5 used a method that depends on the prevalence of mental disorders. Because the prevalence has proven to be variable, this cut-off value is no longer sufficient. Furthermore, the classification of mental disorders has changed since the previous cut-off value determination: the DSM-5 is currently used, while the old cut-off value was based on the criteria of DSM-III-R. More information about recalibration of the MHI can be found in the fact sheet of the Trimbos Institute (see table explanation).

The variable 'Psychological distress, past 4 weeks' will therefore no longer be supplemented from 2024 and from September 2024 CBS will only include the series on the variable Feelings of anxiety or depression, 4 wks (last 4 weeks).

Psychological distress, past 4 weeks

Percentage of people aged 12 years or older who score less than 60 on the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5) for adolescents aged 12 years and older and adults. These people have had psychological distress in the past 4 weeks.

Anxiety, 12 years or older

Anxious period, in the last 12 months

The percentage of people aged 12 years or older who answered 'yes' to the question 'Have you ever had a period when you were very anxious or worried, for at least 2 weeks in a row?' and 'yes' to the follow-up question 'Have you had this in the past 12 months?'.

Chronic disorders

All respondents are asked: ꞌDo you /Does your child have one or more chronic disorders?ꞌ Chronic means (in anticipation) 6 months or longer. Next, 23 disorders and a remainder category 'other disorders' are presented and persons are asked if they had this disorder during the last 12 months. Persons are asked after 3 of these disorders if they ever suffered from it. Besides (more elaborately) is asked after diabetes. Most questions on specific chronic disorders are being asked to persons of all ages. Questions on disorders that do not occur amongst youngsters are posed to persons of 12 years or older.

Disorders survey date/last 12 months

Chronic diseases/disorders in the last 12 months. Respondents may currently suffer from the disease/disorder or have suffered from it in the last 12 months.

Disorder of the neck

Percentage of persons who answered ꞌyesꞌ to the question: ꞌHave you / Has your child suffered from a serious disorder of the neck in the last 12 months?'

Disorder back of the neck or shoulder

Percentage of persons who answered ꞌyesꞌ to the question: ꞌHave you / Has your child suffered from a serious disorder of the back of the neck or shoulder in the last 12 months?'

Other disorders/diseases

Percentage of persons who answered ꞌyesꞌ to the question: ꞌHave you / Has your child suffered from another chronic disease or disorder in the last 12 months, not mentioned before?'

Acute diseases

Questions are asked on different acute diseases or complaints. With the answer ꞌyesꞌ or ꞌnoꞌ the respondent can indicate if he had the complaints during the last 2 months. The questions are asked to respondents of all ages. In 2019 and 2020, questions about acute illnesses or complaints were not included in the survey.

Inflammation of the ear

Percentage of persons who answered ꞌyesꞌ to the question: ꞌHave you / Has your child suffered from an inflammation of the ear during the last 2 months?'

Medical contacts

Persons are asked if they had contact with their GP, specialist, dentist, dental hygienist, orthodontist, physiotherapist, exercise therapist, psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist, and if he or she is treated by alternative healer. Also, if there were hospital admissions or day care admissions. For children up to 12 years old, these questions are answered by the parent/guardian. Most questions after medical contacts are asked to persons of all ages. Contacts that do not often occur in the case of children are posed from an older age.

Contact physio- and exercise therapist

Figures on physiotherapy and exercise therapy. Physiotherapy and exercise therapy during hospital and day care admission are not taken into account.

Persons with at least 1 contact

Percentage of persons in the population who contacted a physio- and exercise therapist at least once in the 12 months preceding the interview.

Contacts per person

This figure is the average number of contacts in the 12 months preceding the interview, per person in the population.
In order to prevent distortion as a consequence of bad memory respondents are asked after the number of contacts in the last 4 weeks preceding the interview. In order to calculate the average number of contacts in the 12 months preceding the interview, the number of contacts in 4 weeks is multiplied by 13 (13 periods of 4 weeks make 1 year).

Contacts p.p. with at least 1 contact

This figure is the average number of contacts of persons who in the 12 months preceding the interview at least had contact once.
In order to prevent distortion as a consequence of bad memory respondents are asked after the number of contacts in the last 4 weeks preceding the interview. In order to calculate the average number of contacts in the 12 months preceding the interview, the number of contacts in 4 weeks is multiplied by 13 (13 periods of 4 weeks make 1 year).

Persons receiving home care

Percentage of persons who answered ‘yes’ on the question: ‘Did you/your child receive paid help or care at home due to health problems or (for people of 65 or older) due to old age in the 12 months preceding the interview (or for children younger than 12 months; since birth)?’.

Prior to this question, persons got the following introduction:
The next question is about receiving paid assistance or care at home due to long-term health problems or (for those aged 65 and over) old age. This includes, for example, assistance with personal care (for children under 15) or nursing care (for those aged 15 and over), household help, assistance with personal care, nursing, maternity care, or a meal service such as " such as meals-on-wheels". Paid assistance is assistance paid by yourself or by an agency.

Informal care, 55 years or older

Informal care is the care someone receives from acquaintances due to long-term health problems or (for those aged 65 and over) old age. Think of a partner, parent, child, neighbor, or friend. This care can include housework, bathing and dressing, keeping company, arranging transportation, or managing finances, etcetera. Informal care is unpaid. A volunteer from a volunteer center is not an informal caregiver.

Informal care receiver

Percentage of persons of 55 years or older receiving informal care

Hours of informal care per week

The average number of hours of care received per week by an informal care receiver

SF-12 health measure, 12 plus

The 'Short Format 12' or SF-12 questionnaire is a selection of 12 questions from the SF-36 (Ware et al., 1995 *). The SF-12 is a widely used international standard of a generic health measure. The SF-12 measures eight health aspects, namely physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health problems, physical pain, general health, vitality (energy / fatigue), social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems and mental health. Based on the 12 questions, two partial scales can be calculated; a summary measure for physical health (norm score physical) and a summary measure for psychological health (norm score psychological).
These norm scores are calculated for people aged 12 or older.
*Ware J.E., Kosinski M., Keller S.D. SF-12: How to score the SF-12 Physical and Mental Health Summary Scales. Boston, MA: The Health Institute, New England Medical Center, Second Edition, 1995.

Separate items

Emotional problem: less carefully

The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older:
When you are thinking about your work or other daily activities, have you not done your work or other activities as carefully as you are used to during the past 4 weeks due to an emotional problem (for example, feeling depressed or anxious)?
1.Yes
2. No.

Yes

The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered 'yes' to the question ‘If you are thinking about your work or other daily activities, did you have an emotional problem (for example, feeling depressed or anxious) in the past 4 weeks not done the work or other activities as carefully as you are used to?'

No

The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered 'no' to the question 'If you are thinking about your work or other daily activities, did you have an emotional problem (for example, feeling depressed or anxious) in the past 4 weeks not done the work or other activities as carefully as you are used to?'

Calm and peaceful

Respondents aged 12 or older were asked how they have felt in the past 4 weeks:
Would you like to answer each question that best reflects how you have felt?
Did you feel calm and peaceful
1. Constantly
2. Mostly
3. Often
4. Sometimes
5. Rarely
6. Never

Rarely

Percentage of people 12 or older who ‘rarely’ answer the question ‘Did you feel calm and peaceful?’

Downhearted and blue

Respondents aged 12 or older were asked how they have felt in the past 4 weeks:
Would you like to answer each question that best reflects how you have felt?
Did you feel downhearted and blue
1. Constantly
2. Mostly
3. Often
4. Sometimes
5. Rarely
6. Never

Rarely

Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘rarely’ answer the question ‘Did you feel downhearted and blue?’

A lot of energy

Respondents aged 12 or older were asked how they have felt in the past 4 weeks:
Would you like to answer each question that best reflects how you have felt? Did you have a lot of energy
1. Constantly
2. Mostly
3. Often
4. Sometimes
5. Rarely
6. Never

Rarely

Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘rarely’ answer the question ‘Did you have a lot of energy?’

Limited in social activities

The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older:
In the past 4 weeks, how often have your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your social activities (such as visiting friends or family)?
1.Constantly    
2. Mostly    
3. Sometimes    
4. Rarely
5. Never

Rarely

The percentage of people aged 12 or older who ‘rarely’ answer the question ‘How often have your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your social activities (such as visiting friends or family) in the past 4 weeks?’