Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36)
The Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) (Ware, 1993) is a 36-item scale designed to measure health, which encompasses physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health problems, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, mental health. Different versions of the scale have been created which include a subset of the original 36 items.
Reference
Ware J. E. Jr., & Sherbourne C. D. (1992). The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36): I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Medical Care, 30(6), 473-83. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3765916
List of questions
| Question number | Question | Original | 12-item version | 8-item version | 5-item version | COVID-19 2-item version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In general, would you say your health is: | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ |
| 2 | Compared to one year ago, how would you rate your health in general now? | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 3 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Vigorous activities, such as running, lifting heavy objects, participating in strenuous sports | ✓ | ||||
| 4 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling, or playing golf | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 5 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Lifting or carrying groceries | ✓ | ||||
| 6 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Climbing several flights of stairs | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 7 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Climbing one flight of stairs | ✓ | ||||
| 8 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Bending, kneeling, or stooping | ✓ | ||||
| 9 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Walking more than a mile | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 10 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Walking several blocks | ✓ | ||||
| 11 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Walking one block | ✓ | ||||
| 12 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Bathing or dressing yourself | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 13 | During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your physical health? Cut down the amount of time you spent on work or other activities | ✓ | ||||
| 14 | During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your physical health? Accomplished less than you would like | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 15 | During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your physical health? Were limited in the kind of work or other activities | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| 16 | During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your physical health? Had difficulty performing the work or other activities (for example, it took extra effort) | ✓ | ||||
| 17 | During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of any emotional problems (such as feeling depressed or anxious)? Cut down the amount of time you spent on work or other activities | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 18 | During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of any emotional problems (such as feeling depressed or anxious)? Accomplished less than you would like | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 19 | During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of any emotional problems (such as feeling depressed or anxious)? Didn't do work or other activities as carefully as usual | ✓ | ||||
| 20 | During the past 4 weeks, to what extent has your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your normal social activities with family, friends, neighbors, or groups? | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 21 | How much bodily pain have you had during the past 4 weeks? | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 22 | During the past 4 weeks, how much did pain interfere with your normal work (including both work outside the home and housework)? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 23 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Did you feel full of pep? | ✓ | ||||
| 24 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Have you been a very nervous person? | ✓ | ||||
| 25 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Have you felt so down in the dumps that nothing could cheer you up? | ✓ | ||||
| 26 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Have you felt calm and peaceful? | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 27 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Did you have a lot of energy? | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 28 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Have you felt downhearted and blue? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| 29 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Did you feel worn out? | ✓ | ||||
| 30 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Have you been a happy person? | ✓ | ||||
| 31 | How much of the time during the past 4 weeks... Did you feel tired? | ✓ | ||||
| 32 | During the past 4 weeks, how much of the time has your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your social activities (like visiting with friends, relatives, etc.)? | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| 33 | How TRUE or FALSE is each of the following statements for you. I seem to get sick a little easier than other people | ✓ | ||||
| 34 | How TRUE or FALSE is each of the following statements for you. I am as healthy as anybody I know | ✓ | ||||
| 35 | How TRUE or FALSE is each of the following statements for you. I expect my health to get worse | ✓ | ||||
| 36 | How TRUE or FALSE is each of the following statements for you. My health is excellent | ✓ | ||||
| Items which are not included in the original version | ||||||
| 37 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Climbing stairs | ✓ | ||||
| 38 | Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much? Doing the housework | ✓ | ||||
Note: two ticks (✓✓) next to a question indicate that the question was asked twice, each with a different time stamp