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Longitudinal Research

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...

Cross-Sectional Research

Cross-Sectional Research

In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...

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Using the SF-36 with older adults: a cross-sectional community-based survey.

S J Walters¹, J F Munro, J E Brazier

¹Sheffield Health Economics, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. s.j.walters@sheffield.ac.uk

|August 18, 2001

Summary

The 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) is practical and valid for assessing health in older adults living in the community. This study provides population scores for this age group, aiding future research.

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Health Services Research
Psychometrics

Background:

Assessing health status in community-dwelling older adults is crucial for public health.
The 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) is a widely used health assessment tool.
Validation in diverse populations, including older adults, is essential for its reliable application.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the feasibility and validity of the SF-36 in individuals aged 65 and above.
To establish normative SF-36 scores for the older adult population.
To compare health dimensions between older adults and younger populations.

Main Methods:

A postal survey was conducted among 9897 individuals aged 65-104 years.
The survey included the SF-36 and other health-related questionnaires.
Response rates and internal consistency of SF-36 dimensions were analyzed.

Main Results:

The SF-36 achieved a high response rate (82%) and good dimension completion rates (86.4-97.7%).
Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) exceeded 0.80 for most SF-36 dimensions.
Physical health showed a steep decline with age, unlike mental health, in comparison to younger populations.

Conclusions:

The SF-36 is a practical and valid instrument for postal surveys of community-dwelling older adults.
The generated population scores can support future health surveys and research involving older populations.
Findings highlight age-related changes in physical versus mental health among older adults.