Health

Physical Health

 

Young Women Physical Health Variables

A comprehensive set of health-related variables is available for all respondents. In the early survey years, this data collection focused on health as related to employment and schooling, with questions in most interviews about whether the respondent's health limited her work activity or prevented her from working and whether her health affected her schooling, housework, or other activities. Information on whether any of the reported health problems were the result of an accidental injury and whether the most serious injury occurred on the job was collected in 1978. Respondents were also asked at multiple survey points to identify if any specific workplace characteristics would cause them trouble because of their health (e.g., places that were hot, damp, or that had fumes or noise).

Some surveys have also asked respondents about their current health status and perceived health changes over time. Beginning in 1971, periodic questions were fielded on whether the respondent considered her health to have remained about the same or to have changed for the better or worse over a set period of time (e.g., the past five years, since the last interview). In the 1993-2003 surveys, each respondent was asked to rate her health as excellent, good, fair, or poor compared to other women her age. Self-reported height and weight data are available for respondents interviewed during 1991; weight was also asked in 1995.

As the cohort aged, the health collection expanded. Information on the specific diseases that limited the amount or kind of work that the respondent could do was collected during the 1991 and 1993 surveys. Details on up to four health conditions (e.g., cancer, heart trouble, diabetes, hypertension, senility) and the length of time that the respondent had been limited by the primary health condition were coded during each year. The 1991 survey further included an extensive list of medical conditions, ranging from heart problems to allergies to osteoporosis, and asked respondents to state whether they had ever experienced each condition. In 1995-2003, a series of questions asked all respondents about high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease, including limited information about treatment.

In 1971, 1978, 1983, 1988, and 1991, respondents who reported that health limited the amount or kind of work or housework they could do were also asked if their health problems prevented them from performing a predetermined set of other activities such as walking, using stairs, stooping or crouching, etc. In 1995, a similar set of activity questions was addressed to all respondents. During these same surveys, respondents were also asked whether they experienced certain health-related problems (e.g., pain, tiring easily, weakness, aches or swelling, fainting spells or dizziness, anxiety or depression, and/or shortness of breath).

In 1995-2003, an additional section on menopause expanded the health module's focus. First, this section determined the respondent's current ovulation status. If the respondent had stopped ovulating, she dated her last ovulation and stated why her period stopped. Additional questions asked if the respondent had had surgery to remove her ovaries or uterus. This section ended by querying about hormonal supplements and birth control pill usage to control menopausal or aging symptoms.

A series included only in the 1995 survey informs researchers about these women's day-to-day driving activities. The section asked if the respondent ever drove a car and if she had driven over the last 12 months. Those who had driven in the last 12 months were asked the number of miles driven and whether they drove after dark. Those who had not driven in the last 12 months, but who had during their lifetime, stated when they stopped driving.

In 2003 a series of questions was introduced regarding prescription drug use. Respondents were asked if they took all the medication they were prescribed and, if not, the reasons why. They were also queried on per month out-of-pocket expenses for their prescriptions.

A single question was also asked in 2003 about whether a respondent got at least 30 minutes of exercise three or more times a week.

In 2003, proxies of deceased respondents were asked a series of questions about the health of the respondent between the last interview and the respondent's death, including cause of death, length of illness, and working status at time of death. The proxies were also asked about the deceased's medical care prior to death.

 

Mature Women Physical Health Variables

A comprehensive set of health-related variables is available for all respondents. In the early survey years, this data collection focused on health as related to employment, with questions in most interviews about whether the respondent's health limited her work activity or prevented her from working altogether. Information was collected in four surveys regarding whether any of the health problems were the result of an accidental injury and whether the most serious injury occurred on the job. Respondents were also asked at multiple survey points to identify one or more specific workplace characteristics that they would have trouble working under because of their health (e.g., places that were hot, damp, or that had fumes or noise).

Most surveys also asked respondents about their current health status and perceived health changes over time. Each respondent was asked during the 1967, 1986, and 1992-2003 surveys to rate her health as excellent, good, fair, or poor compared to other women her age. Periodic questions were also fielded on whether the respondent considered her health to have remained about the same or to have changed for the better or worse over a set period of time (e.g., the past five years, since the last interview). Self-reported height and weight data are available for respondents interviewed in 1992 and 1997-2003; weight was also asked in 1995.

As the cohort aged, the health collection expanded. Information on the specific diseases that limited the amount or kind of work that the respondent could do was collected during the 1989 and 1992 surveys. Details on up to four health conditions (e.g., cancer, heart trouble, diabetes, hypertension, senility) and the length of time that the respondent had been limited by the primary health condition were coded during each year. In 1997-2003, a similar series of questions asked all respondents about high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease, including some limited information about treatment.

In 1971, 1977, 1982, 1987, and 1989, respondents who reported that health limited the amount or kind of work they could do were also asked if their health problems prevented them from performing a predetermined set of other activities such as walking, using stairs, stooping or crouching, etc. In 1995 and 1999-2003, a similar set of activity questions was addressed to all respondents. During each of these surveys except 1999, respondents were also asked whether they experienced certain health-related problems (e.g., pain, tiring easily, weakness, aches or swelling, fainting spells or dizziness, anxiety or depression, and/or shortness of breath).

In 1995-2003, two additional sections expanded the health module's focus. First, a new menopause section determined the respondent's current ovulation status. If the respondent had stopped ovulating, she dated her last ovulation and stated why her period stopped. Additional questions asked if the respondent had had surgery to remove her ovaries or uterus. This section ended by querying about hormonal supplements and birth control pill usage to control menopausal or aging symptoms.

A second series in 1995-2003 informs researchers about these women's day-to-day driving activities. The section asked if the respondent ever drove a car and if she had driven over the last 12 months. Those who had driven in the last 12 months were asked the number of miles driven and whether they drove after dark. Those who had not driven in the last 12 months, but who had during their lifetime, stated when and why they stopped driving.

Respondents were asked in 1991 and again in 2003 whether they had had any overnight stays in the hospital since the last interview and if so, the number of times and the number of nights spent. In 2003, for the first and only time, the women were asked if they had fractured or broken a bone in the last 10 years.

In 2003 a series of questions was introduced regarding prescription drug use. Respondents were asked if they took all the medication they were prescribed and, if applicable, the reasons why not. They were also queried on per month out-of-pocket expenses for their prescriptions.

A single question was also asked in 2003 about whether a respondent got at least 30 minutes of exercise three or more times a week.

In 2003, for the first and only time, proxies of deceased respondents were asked a series of questions about the health of the respondent between the last interview and the respondent's death, including cause of death, length of illness, and working status at time of death. The proxies were also asked about the deceased's medical care prior to death.