Self-ratings of health - explanations for variation across time, age and place (WC2006-080)
Background
Starting date: 01/01/2009 Self-rated health has been shown to be a better predictor for mortality than other measures of disease, independent of confounding factors such as physical functioning. As a consequence, it is becoming a more important indicator for a healthy life expectancy.A major advantage of the use of SRH in older people is that it can be measured through only one question: ‘How good is your health in general?’ Other advantages are that data on SRH are largely available because this question is included in many studies, and that the answers on this simple question have good international comparability.
Besides these advantages, several disadvantages of using SRH can be mentioned. It is not clear whether SRH involves only perceptions of physical health or also of psychological health. Furthermore, older persons use standards to evaluate their own health, but these standards vary for each person, and can also change over time within one person.