Health and health care; personal characteristics

Table explanation

Description topics

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

General health

The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older: Overall, what do you think about your health?
1. Excellent
2. Very good
3. Good
4. Moderate
5. Bad
This question is asked in the health survey because it is an item of the SF-12. The question is used to calculate the norm score physically and psychologically. Elsewhere in this Statline table are figures on ‘perceived health; good or very good’. For those figures, use was made of another question with different answer options, namely: How is your health / the health of your child in general?
1. Very good
2. Good
3. OK
4. Bad
5. Very bad

Excellent

Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ’excellent’ to the question ’Overall, how do you feel about your health?’

Very good

Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘very good’ to the question ‘Overall, how do you feel about your health?’

Good

Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘good’ to the question ’Overall, how do you feel about your health?’

Moderate

Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘moderate’ to the question ‘Overall, how do you feel about your health?’

Bad

Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ’bad’ to the question ’Overall, how do you feel about your health?’