Health and health care; personal characteristics, 2014-2021
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
This table contains data on the perceived state of health and on contacts with providers of medical care of the Dutch population in private households. These data can be grouped by several personal characteristics.
Data available for 2014-2021
Status of the data: final.
Changes as of July 31, 2023:
None, the table has been discontinued.
When will new data be published?
Not applicable. This table has been replaced, see paragraph 3 for a link to the new table.
Description topics
- Self-perceived health: good or very good
- Percentage of persons who answered ꞌgoodꞌ or ꞌvery goodꞌ to the question: ꞌHow do you assess your general state of health?ꞌ / ꞌHow does your child assess his, her general state of health?ꞌ. Parents or caretakers answer this question on behalf of children under the age of 12 years.
- Poor mental health, 12 years or older
- Percentage of persons of 12 years or older that scores less than 60 on the Mental Health Inventory (MHI) for adolescents from 12 years of age and grown-ups. The figures relate to the Mental Health Inventory 5 or ꞌMHI-5ꞌ. This is an international standard for a specific measuring of psychic health, 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-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 can be qualified psychologically healthy and a score of less than 60 psychologically unhealthy. - Oral Health
- Oral health, 15 years or older
- Percentage of persons of 15 years or older who answered ‘good’ or ‘very good’ to the question: ‘How do you assess your general state of teeth and gum?’
- Denture, 18 years or older
- Percentage of people aged 18 or older with full or partial dentures in the upper and/or lower jaw.
- Real teeth and molars, 18 years or older
- Average number of real teeth in the upper and lower jaw of people aged 18 years or older.
- SF-12 health measure, age 12 or older
- 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.- Norm score physical
- Standard score physical is determined for persons 12 years of age or older. The standard score physical is a summary physical health measure, which is calculated by means of the answers to the SF-12 questionnaire. The American population was used as the reference group in the development of the norm scores. In 1995, the physical health score for the American population was exactly 50. Mean values below 50 indicate less good physical health than in that standard population (American population 1995) and values above 50 indicate better health. For the Dutch population, the average of the physical norm score is slightly higher than 50.
- Norm score Psychological
- Psychological norm score is determined for people aged 12 or older. The psychological norm score is a summary psychological health measure, which is calculated by means of the answers to the SF-12 questionnaire. The American population was used as the reference group in the development of the norm scores. In 1995, the psychological health score of the American population was exactly 50. Mean values below 50 indicate less good psychological health than in that standard population (American population 1995) and values above 50 indicate better health. For the Dutch population, the average of the psychological norm score is slightly higher than 50.
- 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?’
- Limited in daily activities
- The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older:
To what extent is your health currently limiting you in daily activities that require moderate exercise, such as moving a table, vacuuming or cycling?
1. Limited a lot
2. Limited a little
3. Not limited at all- Limited a lot
- Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘severely limited’ to the question ‘To what extent are you currently limited by your health in daily activities that require moderate exercise, such as moving a table, vacuuming or cycling?’
- Limited a little
- Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘limited a little’ to the question ‘To what extent are you currently limited by your health in daily activities that require moderate exercise, such as moving a table, vacuuming or cycling?’
- Not limited at all
- Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘not limited at all’ to the question ‘To what extent are you currently limited by your health in daily activities that require moderate exercise, such as moving a table, vacuuming or cycling?’
- Limited in climbing stairs
- The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older:
How much are you currently limited by your health when climbing a few flights of stairs?
1. Limited a lot
2. Limited a little
3. Not limited at all
- Limited a lot
- Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘limited a lot’ to the question ‘To what extent are you currently limited by your health when climbing a few flights of stairs?’
- Limited a little
- Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘limited a little’’ to the question ‘To what extent are you currently limited by your health when climbing a few flights of stairs?’
- Not limited at all
- Percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘‘not limited at all’’ to the question ‘To what extent are you currently limited by your health when climbing a few flights of stairs?’
- Physical Health: less accomplished
- The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older: When you think about your work or other daily activities, has your physical health helped you achieve less than you would like?
1.Yes
2. No.- Yes
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘yes’ to the question ‘When you think about your work or other daily activities, have you accomplished less than you would like because of your physical health?’
- No
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘no’ to the question ‘When you think about your work or other daily activities, have you accomplished less than you would like because of your physical health?’
- Physical Health: limited work
- The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older:
When thinking about your work or other daily activities, were you limited by your physical health in the type of work or activities?
1.Yes
2. No.- Yes
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘yes’ to the question ‘When thinking about your work or other daily activities, were you limited by your physical health in the type of work or activities?’
- No
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘no’ to the question ‘When thinking about your work or other daily activities, were you limited by your physical health in the type of work or activities?’
- Emotional problem: less accomplished
- The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older:
When thinking about your work or other daily activities, has an emotional problem (for example, feeling depressed or anxious) caused you to accomplish less than you would like in the past 4 weeks?
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 less accomplished than you would like?'
- 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 less accomplished than you would like?'
- 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?'
- Restricted by pain
- Respondents aged 12 or older were asked one or two questions about pain:
How much pain have you had in the past 4 weeks?
1. None
2. Very little
3. Little
4. Not much but not too little
5. Much
6. Very much
If people answered this question with ‘very little’, ‘little’, ‘not much, but also not little,’ ‘a lot’ or ‘very much’ they were asked the follow-up question:
In the past 4 weeks, to what extent have you been hindered by pain in your normal activities, both outside work and housework?
1. Not at all
2. A little bit
3. Moderately
4. Much
5. Very much- Not at all
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered 'not at all' to the question 'In the past 4 weeks, to what extent have pain bothered you in your normal activities, both outside work and housework?' plus the proportion of people who 'none answer the question 'How much pain have you had in the past 4 weeks?'
- A little bit
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘a little bit' to the question 'In the past 4 weeks, to what extent have pain bothered you in your normal activities, both outside work and housework?'
- Moderately
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘moderately' to the question 'In the past 4 weeks, to what extent have pain bothered you in your normal activities, both outside work and housework?'
- Much
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered 'much' to the question 'In the past 4 weeks, to what extent have pain bothered you in your normal activities, both outside work and housework?'
- Very much
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered 'very much' to the question 'In the past 4 weeks, to what extent have pain bothered you in your normal activities, both outside work and housework?'
- 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- Constantly
- Percentage of people 12 or older who ‘contstantly’ answer the question ‘Did you feel calm and peaceful?’
- Mostly
- Percentage of people 12 or older who ‘mostly’ answer the question ‘Did you feel calm and peaceful?’
- Often
- Percentage of people 12 or older who ‘often’ answer the question ‘Did you feel calm and peaceful?’
- Sometimes
- Percentage of people 12 or older who ‘sometimes’ answer the question ‘Did you feel calm and peaceful?’
- Rarely
- Percentage of people 12 or older who ‘rarely’ answer the question ‘Did you feel calm and peaceful?’
- Never
- Percentage of people 12 or older who ‘never’ 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- Constantly
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘constantly’ answer the question ‘Did you feel downhearted and blue?’
- Mostly
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘mostly’ answer the question ‘Did you feel downhearted and blue?’
- Often
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘often’ answer the question ‘Did you feel downhearted and blue?’
- Sometimes
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘sometimes’ answer the question ‘Did you feel downhearted and blue?’
- Rarely
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘rarely’ answer the question ‘Did you feel downhearted and blue?’
- Never
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘never’ 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- Constantly
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘constantly’ answer the question ‘Did you have a lot of energy?’’
- Mostly
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘mostly’ answer the question ‘Did you have a lot of energy?’
- Often
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘often’ answer the question ‘Did you have a lot of energy?’
- Sometimes
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘sometimes’ answer the question ‘Did you have a lot of energy?’
- Rarely
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘rarely’ answer the question ‘Did you have a lot of energy?’
- Never
- Percentage of people 12 years of age or older who ‘never’ 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- Constantly
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who ‘constantly’ 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?’
- Mostly
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who ‘mostly’ 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?’
- Sometimes
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who ‘sometimes’ 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?’
- 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?’
- Never
- The percentage of people aged 12 or older who ‘never’ 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?’