Table 1 Health dimensions and their associated constructs, selected references and primary outcome parameters

 Self-rated health status: a concept widely used in European surveys; considered as appropriate marker for overall health status [44]

Minimum European Health Module (MEHM1)

Self-rated health status (interval)

General subjectively perceived health status

1

n/a

Internal consistency: α = .74

[44,45,46,47]

 Quality of life (QoL): considered highly predictive to physical and psychological health status; widely used [48]

German version of the Satisfaction with life scale (SWLS)

Self-rated quality of life (interval)

Subjectively perceived life satisfaction

5

Convergent validity:

r = −.34 to r = −.49

Internal consistency: α = .74

[49,50,51]

 Satisfaction with life and studies: context-specific marker; comparability with existing data [17]

Life and study satisfaction scale (German titel: Lebens- und Studien-zufriedenheitsskala) (LSZ)

Self-rated life and study satisfaction (interval)

General feeling of efficiency, relationship to others, satisfaction with oneself and one’s own academic performance

7

Criterion validity:

r = −.51; r = −.55;

Internal consistency: α = .79

[41, 52]

 Perceived stress: suitable marker for mental health [53]

German version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

Self-rated stress (interval)

Subjectively perceived stress level

10

Construct validity:

α = .95 to α = .96

Internal consistency: α = .84

[54]

 Sleeping behavior and sleep quality: high predictive value of various parameters reflecting health status [55, 56]

German version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality -Index (PSQI-D)

Self-rated quality of sleep, sleep duration and interruptions (interval, ratio)

Self-assessment of sleep duration, efficiency and quality

19

Sensitivity and specificity: α = .80 to α = 1.00

Test-Retest:

α = .89

[57]

 Physical activity: self-evaluation report of WRPA, TRPA, LRPA^a and strengthening training; high level of physical activity correlates positively various parameters reflecting health status [58, 59]

European Health Interview Survey - Physical Activity Questionnaire (EHIS-PAQ)

Self-reported:

- METxHours

- Sitting time

- Intensity of activity

(interval, ratio)

Physical activity and inactivity at different levels of intensity (MVPA, VPA^b) and domains (WRPA, TRPA, LRPA^a)

8

Convergent validity: ρ > .41

Test-Retest:

ICC = .43 to ICC = .83

[60]

 Screentime: usage duration, duration of use correlates negatively with various parameters reflecting health status [61, 62]

Screen Time (adapted to [55])

Duration of screentime (ratio)

Self-evaluation report of daily screentime; orientation to threshold values for children and adolescents

6

n/a

Test-Retest:

ICC = .50 to ICC = .90

[63, 64]

 Nutritional behavior: compliance with the dietary recommendations of the German Nutrition Association (DGE)

Nutrition; based on the Questionnaire for recording health behavior (German title: Fragebogen zur Erfassung des Gesundeitsverhaltens) (FEG)

Self-rated nutrition behavior (nominal, ordinal)

Self-evaluation report on the achievement of and compliance with the dietary recommendations of the German Nutrition Association (DGE)

13

n/a

n/a

[65]

 Risk behavior (alcohol, smoking, addictive substances): self-evaluation report on risk thresholds for consuming critical substances (like nicotine, alcohol and addictive substances) [66, 67]

Brief Alcohol Screening Instrument in Medical Care (BASIC)

Amount and frequency of alcohol intake (nominal, ordinal)

Self-assessment on risk threshold for consuming alcohol

6

Diagnostic validity:

Sensitivity α = .98; Specificity α = .88

Internal consistency: α = .81

[68]

Smoking (based on FEG)

Amount and frequency of nicotine intake (nominal, ordinal, ratio)

Self-assessment on smoking behavior, smoking amount and duration of abstinence

1–3

n/a

n/a

[65]

Substance (based on FEG)

Amount and frequency of drug intake (ordinal)

Self-assessment on risk threshold for consuming addictive substances, drug amount and duration of abstinence

7

n/a

n/a

[65]

 Health literacy: widely validated construct with multiple reference data pools of European cohorts [69]

European short form of the Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Q16)

Self-rated health literacy (interval)

Self-assessment on health literacy

16

Convergent validity:

r = .86

Internal consistency α = .78 to α = .97

[69,70,71]