Survey questionnaires
The study’s research questions at all stages of follow-up have focused on participant physical and mental health, health behavior, life situation and psychosocial resources.
Questionnaires:
1981 (pdf 108 kt)
1982 (pdf 187 kt)
1983 (pdf 291 kt)
1989 (pdf 179 kt)
1999 (pdf 233 kt)
2009 (pdf 349 kt)
2019 (pdf 353 kt)
1983
When the study participants were 16 years old, their health status and health behavior were studied in the following areas: perceived health, chronic morbidity, height, weight, psychosomatic symptoms, alcohol consumption and smoking.
Family situation, schooling, hobbies, and other leisure activities as well as life events were surveyed for the survey-preceding year. Social relationships were looked at through the lens of parental relationships, friends, and dating.
The survey questionnaire also contained a scale for assessing self-image1 as well as sets of questions related to self-esteem and social anxiety. In addition, the teenagers were prompted to describe their hopes and worries.
1989
When participants were 22 years old, the topics covered in the survey mostly corresponded with those included in the previous data collection phase (psychosomatic symptoms, chronic illnesses, perceived health, self-esteem, alcohol use, and smoking).
Headache prevalence was investigated in more detail. Parts of the questionnaire – i.e., questions having to do with school, family situation, parental relationships, work and studies, life situation, life changes, interpersonal relationships, and social support – were also updated to be more age appropriate.
Added to the questionnaire were mental health measures including a depression inventory (RBDI2,3) as well as series of questions pertaining to psychosocial resources including coping mechanisms, locus of control and relationship quality.
1999
When participants were 32 years old, the follow-up survey was carried out using primarily the same indicators as in the 1989 round. An instrument used for identifying symptoms of psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-124) as well as a question regarding anxiety were added to the questionnaire as a part of the domain of mental health.
In order to collect data related to alcohol use, a measure used for identifying high-risk drinking (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, AUDIT5) was also added.
Additionally, social support was measured in more detail than in the previous follow-up stage and an edited version of the Social Support Resources (SSR6) measure, which measures satisfaction with social support and the elements it is comprised of, was added to the 1999 questionnaire.
2009
At 42 years old, the participants were sent surveys which included all the measures and questions from the previous follow-up. In addition, socioeconomic position, mental healthcare use, eating habits, sleeping, and gambling were covered in more detail.
A measure focused on optimism (Life Orientation Test, LOT-R7) was added to the psychosocial resources domain. Moreover, participants were asked about their memory function and ability to learn and assimilate new information.
2019
When participants were 52 years old, the questionnaire comprised of most of the same questions and measures as in the prior round. Questions regarding excessive internet use and menopause for women were added.
Additional information on measures
A portion of the questions, question series, and measures used in the follow-up study have been developed specifically for this study, whereas others are commonly used standardized measures. Further reading on commonly used mental health measures can be found in:
- Rauste-von Wright M. (1975). The image of man among Finnish girls and boys. Report No. 41. University of Turku, Department of Psychology, Turku.
- Raitasalo R & Notkola V. (1987). Viljelijäväestön mielenterveyden ongelmien seulonta ja työterveyshuolto. Sosiaalilääketieteellinen Aikakauslehti, 24: 232–241.
- Raitasalo R. (2007) Mielialakysely. Suomen oloihin Beckin lyhyen depressiokyselyn pohjalta kehitetty masennusoireilun ja itsetunnon kysely. Sosiaali- ja terveysturvan tutkimuksia 86, Helsinki: Kansaneläkelaitos.
- Goldberg DP. (1972) The detection of psychiatric illness by questionnaire. Maudsley Monographs No. 21. London: Oxford University Press.
- Babor TF et. al. (2001) AUDIT The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Guidelines for use in primary care, 2nd edn. Geneva: WHO, Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence.
- Vaux A & Harrison D. (1985). Support network characteristics associated with support satisfaction and perceived support. American Journal of Community Psychology, 13: 245 – 268.
- Scheier MF et. al. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and selfesteem): A re-evaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67: 1063 – 1078.
