Whitehall II (WH2)

Measures describe a question asked to a participant during a survey or an item of information requested from a manager when they fill out a data return. For example, ‘Who do you live with?’ is a measure and the possible responses might be, mother, father, brother, sister etc.

Question/Data item wording	Response scale wording	Need OR provision OR receipt	Description of measure	Start Year	Age of interest	Age from	Age to	Informant	Multiple rater	Reporting term	Sweep title	Standard instrument	Dataset
Do you provide regular care for any of the following? a) Children b) Grandchildren c) Disabled or ill partner/spouse d) Disabled or ill parent e) Other disables or ill relative f) Disabled or ill friend	Yes No If yes, for how many hours per week	Provision;	Who do you provide care for	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
d) do it yourself other DIY: household repairs, woodwork, bricklaying	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2012	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 11	No	Whitehall
In your spare time are you involved in any of the following activities? How often have you taken part in these activities in the last 12 months? J) household tasks I) gardening	Weekly Monthly Less often Never	Receipt;	IADL	2012	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 12 months	Wave 11	No	Whitehall
The following items are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so how much? b) moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling or playing golf c) lifting or carrying groceries d) climbing several flights of stairs e) climbing one flight of stairs f) bending, kneeling, or stooping g) walking more than one mile h) walking half a mile i) walking one hundred yards j) bathing and dressing yourself	Yes, limited a lot Yes, limited a little. No, not limited at all	Receipt;	ADL	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
Here are a few everyday activities. Please tell us if you have any difficulties with these because of physical, mental or emotional memory problems. Exclude any difficulties you expect to last less than three months a) Dressing, including putting on shoes and socks b) Walking across a room c) Bathing or showering d) Eating such as cutting up your food e) Getting in or out of bed f) Using the toilet including getting up or down g) Using a map to figure out how to get around in a strange place h) Preparing a hot meal i) Shopping for groceries j) Making telephone calls k) Taking medications l) Doing work around the house or garden m) Managing money such as paying bills and keeping track of expenses n) Controlling bowel and bladder completely by yourself o) Doing personal laundry p) Travelling independently on public transport or drive own car	yes no	Receipt;	ADL	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
a) Do you feel you need help with any of the day to day tasks listed in question 52? c) Does anyone help you with the day to day tasks ?	a) yes no c) yes no	Provision;	Help with tasks	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
Please indicate the number of occasions and total time spent on each of the activities listed. B) Gardening Weeding, hoeing, pruning (not mowing) Manual lawn mowing Other gardening: digging planting, clearing ground etc…	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 weeks	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
c) Housework carrying heavy shopping cooking hanging out washing other housework for example dusting, ironing, hoovering	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 weeks	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
d) do it yourself other DIY: household repairs, woodwork, bricklaying	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 weeks	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
a) Do you have a carer(s) who visits you regularly or stays in your household? b) If yes, how many days per week does your carer visit you? c) If yes how many nights per week does your carer stay with you overnight?	Yes No Enter number Enter number	Provision;	Care	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
In your spare time are you involved in any of the following activities? How often have you taken part in these activities in the last 12 months? J) household tasks I) gardening	Weekly Monthly Less often Never	Receipt;	IADL	2015	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 12 months	Wave 12	No	Whitehall
The following items are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so how much? b) moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling or playing golf c) lifting or carrying groceries d) climbing several flights of stairs e) climbing one flight of stairs f) bending, kneeling, or stooping g) walking more than one mile h) walking half a mile i) walking one hundred yards j) bathing and dressing yourself	Yes, limited a lot Yes, limited a little. No, not limited at all	Receipt;	ADL	2019	33-55	33	55	Participant	No		Wave 13	No	Whitehall
Here are a few everyday activities. Please tell us if you have any difficulties with these because of physical, mental or emotional memory problems. Exclude any difficulties you expect to last less than three months a) Dressing, including putting on shoes and socks b) Walking across a room c) Bathing or showering d) Eating such as cutting up your food e) Getting in or out of bed f) Getting up from chair after sitting long periods g) Using the toilet including getting up or down h) Using a map to figure out how to get around in a strange place i) Recognizing when you are in physical danger j) Preparing a hot meal k) Shopping for groceries l) Making telephone calls m) Communication (speech, hearing or eyesight) n) Taking medication o) Doing work around the house or garden p) Managing money such as paying bills and keeping track of expenses q) Controlling bowel and bladder completely by yourself r) Doing personal laundry s) Travelling independently on public transport or drive own car t) Pulling or pushing large objects	yes no	Receipt;	ADL	2019	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 13	No	Whitehall
Do you feel you need help with any of the day to day task listed in question 14?	yes no	Provision;	Help with tasks	2019	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 13	No	Whitehall
Please indicate the number of occasions and total time spent on each of the activities listed. B) Gardening Weeding, hoeing, pruning (not mowing) Manual lawn mowing Other gardening: digging planting, clearing ground etc.…	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2019	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 weeks	Wave 13	No	Whitehall
c) Housework carrying heavy shopping cooking hanging out washing other housework for example dusting, ironing, hoovering	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2019	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 weeks	Wave 13	No	Whitehall
d) do it yourself other DIY: household repairs, woodwork, bricklaying	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2019	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 weeks	Wave 13	No	Whitehall
a) Do you have a carer(s) who visits you regularly or stays in your household? b) If yes, how many days per week does your carer visit you? c) If yes how many nights per week does your carer stay with you overnight?	Yes No Enter number Enter number	Provision;	Care	2019	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 13	No	Whitehall
c) Housework carrying heavy shopping cooking hanging out washing other housework for example dusting, ironing, hoovering	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2012	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 11	No	Whitehall
Here are a few everyday activities. Please tell us if you have any difficulties with these because of physical, mental or emotional memory problems. Exclude any difficulties you expect to last less than three months a) Dressing, including putting on shoes and socks b) Walking across a room c) Bathing or showering d) Eating such as cutting up your food e) Getting in or out of bed f) Using the toilet including getting up or down g) Using a map to figure out how to get around in a strange place h) Preparing a hot meal i) Shopping for groceries j) Making telephone calls k) Taking medications l) Doing work around the house or garden m) Managing money such as paying bills and keeping track of expenses	yes no	Receipt;	ADL	2007	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 9	No	Whitehall
The following items are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so how much? b) moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling or playing golf c) lifting or carrying groceries d) climbing several flights of stairs e) climbing one flight of stairs f) bending, kneeling, or stooping g) walking more than one mile h) walking half a mile I) walking one hundred yards j) bathing and dressing yourself	Yes, limited a lot Yes, limited a little. No, not limited at all	Receipt;	ADL	2002	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 7	No	Whitehall
Please indicate the number of occasions and total time spent on each of the activities listed. B) Gardening Weeding, hoeing, pruning (not mowing) Manual lawn mowing Other gardening: digging planting, clearing ground etc.…	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ? 1/2 1-1 1/2 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2002	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 Weeks	Wave 7	No	Whitehall
c) Housework carrying heavy shopping cooking hanging out washing other housework for example dusting, ironing, hoovering	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ? 1/2 1-1 1/2 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2002	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 Weeks	Wave 7	No	Whitehall
d) do it yourself other DIY: household repairs, woodwork, bricklaying	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ? 1/2 1-1 1/2 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2002	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 4 Weeks	Wave 7	No	Whitehall
Are you providing any personal are or help to one or more aged or disabled person(s)? If yes, how many hours in an average week do you spend looking after this person (these people)	yes no number of hours in average week	Provision;	Care	2002	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 7	No	Whitehall
The following items are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so how much? b) moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling or playing golf c) lifting or carrying groceries d) climbing several flights of stairs e) climbing one flight of stairs f) bending, kneeling, or stooping g) walking more than one mile h) walking half a mile i) walking one hundred yards j) bathing and dressing yourself	Yes, limited a lot Yes, limited a little. No, not limited at all	Receipt;	ADL	2006	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 8	No	Whitehall
Here are a few everyday activities. Please tell us if you have any difficulties with these because of physical, mental or emotional memory problems. Exclude any difficulties you expect to last less than three months a) Dressing, including putting on shoes and socks b) Walking across a room c) Bathing or showering d) Eating such as cutting up your food e) Getting in or out of bed f) Using the toilet including getting up or down g) Using a map to figure out how to get around in a strange place h) Preparing a hot meal i) Shopping for groceries j) Making telephone calls k) Taking medications l) Doing work around the house or garden m) Managing money such as paying bills and keeping track of expenses	yes no	Receipt;	ADL	2006	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 8	No	Whitehall
Are you providing any personal are or help to one or more aged or disabled person(s)? If yes, how many hours in an average week do you spend looking after this person (these people)	yes no number of hours in average week	Provision;	Care	2006	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 8	No	Whitehall
The following items are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so how much? b) moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling or playing golf c) lifting or carrying groceries d) climbing several flights of stairs e) climbing one flight of stairs f) bending, kneeling, or stooping g) walking more than one mile h) walking half a mile i) walking one hundred yards j) bathing and dressing yourself	Yes, limited a lot Yes, limited a little. No, not limited at all	Receipt;	ADL	2007	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 9	No	Whitehall
The following items are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so how much? b) moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling or playing golf c) lifting or carrying groceries d) climbing several flights of stairs e) climbing one flight of stairs f) bending, kneeling, or stooping g) walking more than one mile h) walking half a mile i) walking one hundred yards j) bathing and dressing yourself	Yes, limited a lot Yes, limited a little. No, not limited at all	Receipt;	ADL	2001	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 6	No	Whitehall
Please indicate the number of occasions and total time spent on each of the activities listed. B) Gardening Weeding, hoeing, pruning (not mowing) Manual lawn mowing Other gardening: digging planting, clearing ground etc.…	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ? 1-1 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2007	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 9	No	Whitehall
c) Housework carrying heavy shopping cooking hanging out washing other housework for example dusting, ironing, hoovering	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ? 1-1 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2007	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 9	No	Whitehall
d) do it yourself other DIY: household repairs, woodwork, bricklaying	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ? 1-1 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2007	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 9	No	Whitehall
Do you provide regular care for any of the following? a) Children b) Grandchildren c) Disabled or ill partner/spouse d) Disabled or ill parent e) Other disables or ill relative f) Disabled or ill friend	Yes No If yes, for how many hours per week	Provision;	Who do you provide care for	2007	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 9	No	Whitehall
In your spare time are you involved in any of the following activities? How often have you taken part in these activities in the last 12 months? J) household tasks I) gardening	Weekly Monthly Less often Never	Receipt;	IADL	2007	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Past 12 Months	Wave 9	No	Whitehall
The following items are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so how much? b) moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling or playing golf c) lifting or carrying groceries d) climbing several flights of stairs e) climbing one flight of stairs f) bending, kneeling, or stooping g) walking more than one mile h) walking half a mile i) walking one hundred yards j) bathing and dressing yourself	Yes, limited a lot Yes, limited a little. No, not limited at all	Receipt;	ADL	2012	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 11	No	Whitehall
Here are a few everyday activities. Please tell us if you have any difficulties with these because of physical, mental or emotional memory problems. Exclude any difficulties you expect to last less than three months a) Dressing, including putting on shoes and socks b) Walking across a room c) Bathing or showering d) Eating such as cutting up your food e) Getting in or out of bed f) Using the toilet including getting up or down g) Using a map to figure out how to get around in a strange place h) Preparing a hot meal i) Shopping for groceries j) Making telephone calls k) Taking medications l) Doing work around the house or garden m) Managing money such as paying bills and keeping track of expenses n) Controlling bowel and bladder completely by yourself o) Doing personal laundry p) Travelling independently on public transport or drive own car	yes no	Receipt;	ADL	2012	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 11	No	Whitehall
Please indicate the number of occasions and total time spent on each of the activities listed. B) Gardening Weeding, hoeing, pruning (not mowing) Manual lawn mowing Other gardening: digging planting, clearing ground etc.…	Occasions in the past 4 weeks None 1-2 3-4 5-10- 11-15 16-20 21+ Total hours in the past 4 weeks None ½ 1-1 ½ 2-3 4-5 6-10 11+	Receipt;	IADL	2012	33-55	33	55	Participant	No	Current	Wave 11	No	Whitehall

England

Aims

The Whitehall II study was established to investigate the causes of social inequalities in health with a cohort of 10,308 participants was recruited from the British Civil Service in 1985. The study has shown the importance of psychosocial factors such as work stress and work-family conflict in heart disease and diabetes in addition to the contribution of unhealthy behaviours and traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure. The study is now a study on ageing, with the 30-year follow-up allowing research on multimorbidity, functional decline, frailty, disability, and dementia.

Institution

Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College London

Geographic coverage - Nations

Barking and Dagenham; Barnet; Bexley; Brent; Bromley; Camden; Croydon; Ealing; Enfield; Greenwich; Hackney; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Harrow; Havering; Hillingdon; Hounslow; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Kingston Upon Thames; Lambeth; Lewisham; Merton; Newham; Redbridge; Richmond Upon Thames; Southwark; Sutton; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster;

Start date

1985

Minimum age at recruitment

Sample Size

10,308

Sample

Study design

Cohort study

Sample details

The target population for the Whitehall II study was all civil servants aged 35–55 years working in the London offices of 20 Whitehall departments in 1985–88. Members of the target population were invited to participate by letter. The achieved sample size was 10,308 people; 3413 women and 6895 men. The participants, who were from clerical and office support grades, middle-ranking executive grades, and senior administrat+J52:J53ive grades, differ widely in salary. Some have remained in the civil service. Many have retired, and others have taken employment elsewhere; some are unemployed. For more details see Marmot & Brunner 2005.

Sex

All

Sample Characteristics

Ageing cohort
Occupational cohort

Sample size at most recent sweep

6,318 - Phase 11 (2012-13) 5,632 - Phase 12 (2015-16)

Individual data available (e.g. upon special request)?

Yes

Data Access Level

Restricted access only (application required)

Data Access

Data access / sharing page

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/psychiatry/our-research/mental-health-older-people/whitehall-ii/data-sharing/data-sharing-faq

Whitehall II Cohort (DPUK)

https://data.dpuk.ukserp.ac.uk/cohortdirectory/Item?fingerPrintID=Whitehall%20II

Regional variable present?

No

Local Authority variable present?

No

Complementary Data

Genetic/genomic data
Linked administrative data
Mapping/spatial data

Genetic Data Collected

Yes

Linked Data

Education data
Environmental data
Health data

HDR UK Innovation Gateway

Website

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology-health-care/research/epidemiology-and-public-health/research/whitehall-ii/data-collection

Notes

Also known as the Stress and Health Study

Related Measures

Study Code

Whitehall

Reference paper(s)

Marmot, M & Brunner, E (2005). Cohort Profile: The Whitehall II Study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 34, 251-256.
doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyh372

Marmot, M & Brunner, E (2005). Cohort Profile: The Whitehall II Study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 34, 251-256.doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyh372

Funders

Lung & Blood Institute

MRC BHF NIA ESRC EU_flag ERC National Heart

Catalogue of Social Care Data

UNITING SOCIAL CARE DATA