Table 1 Description and distribution of the original dependent and independent variables

Self-rated health

How do you rate your health?

1 = very good

118 (5)

2 = good

1144 (45)

3 = moderate

1042 (41)

4 = rather poor

214 (8)

5 = very poor

20 (1)

Independent variables

Sociodemographic variables

Living arrangement

Who do you live with?

1 = alone

964 (38)

2 = with a spouse

1507 (59)

3 = with a spouse or with someone else

40 (2)

4 = with my child (and his or her family)

13 (1)

5 = with someone else

14 (1)

Education

What is your highest grade or level of education?

1 = university

520 (21)

2 = university of applied sciences

609 (24)

3 = upper secondary or vocational school

634 (25)

4 = elementary school

766 (30)

5 = no education

4 (0)

Self-rated financial status

How do you rate your financial status?

1 = very good

252 (10)

2 = rather good

1059 (42)

3 = satisfied

1101 (43)

4 = rather poor

113 (4)

5 = very poor

11 (0)

Psychosocial variables

Living a meaningful life

Do you think your life is meaningful?

1 = very much

317 (13)

2 = much

878 (35)

3 = moderately

1180 (47)

4 = a little

149 (6)

5 = not at all

8 (0)

Satisfaction with relationships

How satisfied you are with your relationships?

1 = very satisfied

419 (17)

2 = satisfied

1661 (66)

3 = not satisfied nor dissatisfied

394 (16)

4 = rather dissatisfied

56 (2)

5 = very dissatisfied

4 (0)

Loneliness

Are you suffering from loneliness?

1 = not at all

1709 (67)

2 = sometimes

788 (31)

3 = often or always

38 (2)

Health behaviour

Smoking

Do you smoke?

1 = I haven’t ever

1373 (54)

2 = I have stopped

1016 (40)

3 = yes

141 (6)

Use of alcohol

How often do you drink beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages?

1 = never

469 (19)

2 = once a month at most

845 (33)

3 = 2–4 times a month

732 (29)

4 = 2–3 times a week

368 (15)

5 = at least 4 times a week

113 (4)

Physical activity

How often you walk or exercise (e.g. swim, gym, dance, cycle, ski, etc.) at least 30 min?

1 = every day

1122 (44)

2 = 3–6 times a week

205 (8)

3 = 1–2 times a week

625 (20)

4 = 2–3 times a month

258 (10)

5 = few times a year at most

270 (11)

6 = I’m not able to do any exercises because of my health or an injury

59 (2)

Physical functioning

Use of mobility devices

Mobility device in use

1 = no mobility devise in use

2293 (91)

2 = a walking stick

38 (2)

3 = crutch

43 (2)

4 = Nordic walking sticks

62 (2)

5 = a rollator or a walker

83 (3)

6 = wheelchair

6 (0)

7 = someone helps

4 (0)

Self-rated ability to walk 400 m

Are you able to walk at least 400 m (around a block)?

1 = without difficulties

2176 (86)

2 = with difficulties

290 (11)

3 = if someone helps

20 (1)

4 = no

50 (2)

Falls

Number of falls during the previous year

1 = none

1893 (75)

2 = 1

461 (18)

3 = 2

108 (4)

4 = 3 or more

67 (3)

Health conditions

Pain

Have you got any pain during the previous 4 weeks?

1 = no

966 (40)

2 = mild

534 (22)

3 = moderate

545 (23)

4 = strong

290 (12)

5 = very strong

74 (3)

Feelings of depression

Have you had any feelings of depression, hopelessness, or reluctance during the previous 4 weeks?

1 = no

422 (18)

2 = yes

2076 (82)

Central obesity

Measurement of waist circumference

1 = non-obese (men < 100 cm, women < 90 cm)

1533 (61)

2 = obese (men ≥ 100 cm, women ≥ 90 cm)

993 (39)

Vision impairment

Has your vision impaired in the way that it affects your everyday life?

1 = no

1699 (67)

2 = yes, to some extent

760 (30)

3 = yes, very much

73 (3)

Sleep quality

How do you sleep at night?

1 = very well

155 (6)

2 = well

728 (29)

3 = moderately

1231 (49)

4 = poorly

361 (14)

5 = very poorly

62 (2)

Number of self-reported diagnoses (range 0–19)

Self-reported diseases diagnosed by a doctor

1 = 0–1

379 (15)

2 = 2–5

1655 (65)

3 = 6 or more

505 (20)