Overview of the Health Measures in the Health and Retirement Survey

This report discusses the conceptual and logistical issues that lead to the items and instruments used to measure health and function status in Wave 1 of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Health status was conceptualized as multidimensional, and included selected major symptoms, diseases and conditions, global self-assessment of health, physical and cognitive functional status, the utilization of health services and selected elements of emotional health. In addition, two physiologic measures were obtained on a sample basis: grip strength and pulmonary maximum expiratory flow rate. Prevalence rates for major conditions and functional states are presented. Correlational analyses generally demonstrated a high rate of convergent, discriminant and construct validity. These findings should assist those intending to analyze HRS data in terms of the focus and utility of the measures employed.