We assessed four commonly used indicators of self-reported physical and mental health status: poor self-rated health (SRH), depressive symptoms, chronic illnesses, and functional limitations. Poor SRH, predictive of mortality and other health outcomes (Idler 1992), is based on respondents’ rating of their health on a five-point scale, ranging from (0) excellent to (4) poor. Depressive symptoms are assessed using the eleven-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) (Radloff 1975). The measure sums the frequency with which respondents reported each symptom in the past week, from (1) never to (4) most of the time (α=0.85). The chronic illnesses category provides a count based on self-reported history of lung disease, heart attack, diabetes, cancer, heart trouble, hypertension, leg circulation problems, emphysema or COPD, stroke, osteoporosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma arthritis, or ulcer. Functional limitations count the number of the following tasks rated as difficult: independently pulling or pushing large objects; stooping, crouching, or kneeling; lifting or carrying weights over ten pounds; extending arms above shoulder level; and writing or handling small objects (Rosow and Breslau, 1966).
