Sonja Spitzer|Daniela Weber
Reporting biases in self-assessed physical and cognitive health status of older Europeans
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis|International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis|Vienna University of Economics and Business
paper explores demographic characteristics substantially bias selfreported physical cognitive health status older europeans analysis utilises microdata 19 european countries survey health ageing retirement europe compare performancetested outcomes mobility memory selfreported equivalents relative importance analysis based multinomial logistic regressions shows bias selfreported health mostly due reporting heterogeneities countries age groups whereas gender contributes little discrepancy concordance mobility cognition measures highly related however differences reporting behaviour due education cultural background larger impact selfassessed memory selfassessed mobility southern well central eastern europeans much likely misreport physical cognitive abilities northern western europeans overall results suggest comparisons selfreported health countries age groups prone significant biases whereas comparisons genders credible european countries findings crucial given selfassessed data often information available researchers policymakers asking healthrelated questions