Our participants have been completing online questionnaires since 2011. Find a short summary of each questionnaire which is no longer available for completion.
On this page
Health and Wellbeing Questionnaire
More than 200,000 health and wellbeing questionnaires completed
In June 2022, we launched a questionnaire aiming to find out more about our participants’ current general health and wellbeing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This questionnaire explored participants’ current experiences of a range of common physical and mental health symptoms. It also included questions about the possible impact of these health issues on participants’ ability to undertake a range of everyday activities (such as washing and dressing, working and interacting with others in a range of environments).
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire advisors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Dr Athena Akrami, University College London, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre
- Professor Nisreen Alwan, University of Southampton
- Dr Katrina A.S. Davis, (i) King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience; (ii) South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Professor Matthew Hotopf, (i) King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience; (ii) South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Timothy Nicholson, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
Repeat Cognitive Function Questionnaire
More than 175,000 repeat cognitive function questionnaires completed
In 2021 we began to invite participants to take part in our Repeat Cognitive Function Questionnaire (also known as ‘Healthy Minds 2’) which involved completing some of the online games and puzzles that were administered via the original Cognitive Function Questionnaire in 2014.
In repeating this questionnaire, we were able to collect data at another time point, which will allow investigation into changes in cognitive function over time.
Cognitive function is associated with health issues such as dementia and other conditions that people might not immediately relate to cognition, like heart disease and many mental health outcomes. It is therefore crucial to understand cognitive ability (and its decline) in later life.
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire contributors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Professor Ian Deary, University of Edinburgh, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science
- Chloe Fawns-Ritchie, University of Edinburgh, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science
- Professor John Gallacher, Cardiff University, Primary Care & Public Health
Food Preferences Questionnaire
Over 190,000 food preferences questionnaires completed
In 2019, we invited participants to complete our questionnaire on food preferences.
Knowledge about which foods our participants like or do not like is helping us to gain a deeper understanding of genetic and environmental factors influencing food preferences and how they are associated with health. This may help to inform the design of new approaches to help people lead healthier lives.
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire contributors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Dr Nicola Pirastu, University of Edinburgh, Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics
- Professor Jim Wilson, University of Edinburgh, Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics
Pain and Sensation Questionnaire
More than 175,000 pain and sensation questionnaires completed
In 2019, we invited participants to complete a questionnaire about their experiences of pain, something which can be distressing and can seriously affect quality of life. This was also known simply as the ‘Pain Questionnaire’.
Chronic pain is a major cause of human suffering and affects 1 in 5 of the general population. We need to know more about the causes of chronic pain if we are going to improve current treatments or develop new treatments.
By gathering information about experiences of chronic pain, we are providing a unique opportunity for researchers to better understand the risk factors, triggers and underlying causes of the different kinds of chronic pain.
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire contributors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Professor David Bennett, University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences
- Professor Zameel Cader, University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences
- Professor Gary Macfarlane, University of Aberdeen, Epidemiology Group, School of Medicine
- Professor Blair Smith, University of Dundee, Division of Population Health Sciences
- Professor David Wynick, University of Bristol, Molecular Medicine
Digestive Health Questionnaire
Over 180,000 digestive health questionnaires completed
In 2017 we invited participants to complete a questionnaire about various aspects of digestive health.
We know surprisingly little about what makes one person develop stomach problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) while another person does not, which is why we asked participants to complete this survey.
The results are proving very valuable to researchers trying to understand why some people develop these conditions and others do not.
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire contributors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Dr Nicholas A Kennedy, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust
- Dr Miles Parkes, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
- Associate Professor Elizabeth Soilleux, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Department of Medicine
- Professor Robin Spiller, University of Nottingham, School of Medicine
- Professor Peter Whorwell, University of Manchester, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Gastroenterology
Mental Health Questionnaire
Over 165,000 mental health questionnaires completed
In 2016, we invited participants to complete a questionnaire about various aspects of mental health (also known as the Thoughts and Feelings Questionnaire).
The results of this questionnaire are enabling important research into the lifestyle and genetic determinants of different aspects of mental health and its effects on other health outcomes.
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire contributors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Katrina Davis, King’s College London, Department of Psychological Medicine
- Professor Elaine Fox, University of Oxford, Department of Experimental Psychology
- Professor Matthew Hotopf, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Professor Louise Howard, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Professor Ann John, Swansea University, Medical School
- Professor Rose McCabe, University of Exeter, Medical School
- Professor Andrew McIntosh, University of Edinburgh, Division of Psychiatry
- Professor Daniel Smith, University of Glasgow, Institute of Health & Wellbeing
- Professor Stanley Zammit, Cardiff University School of Medicine
Occupational History Questionnaire
Over 120,000 occupational history questionnaires completed
In 2015, we invited participants to complete a questionnaire about their employment history and to answer some questions about potential exposures to workplace hazards. This was also known as the Work History Questionnaire.
Most people throughout their lifetime spend a large proportion of their time at work. It is known that the tasks, environment and materials involved can lead to health problems – either while working or into retirement.
The results of this questionnaire are helping scientists to study the impact of certain jobs and associated exposures, as well as working hours, on future health outcomes.
This work was funded by the Health & Safety Executive, Merseyside, UK.
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire contributors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Dr Sara De-Matteis, Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London
- Professor Paul Cullinan, Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London
- Dr Lesley Rushton, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London
The questionnaire was developed by Heather Young, University of Oxford, Cancer Epidemiology Unit.
Cognitive Function Questionnaire
More than 120,000 cognitive function questionnaires completed
In 2014 we invited participants to take part in our Cognitive Function Questionnaire (also known as ‘Healthy Minds’) , which involved completing some online games and puzzles.
Cognitive function is associated with health issues such as dementia and other conditions that people might not immediately relate to cognition, like heart disease and many mental health outcomes. It is therefore crucial to understand cognitive ability (and its decline) in later life.
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire contributors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Professor Ian Deary, University of Edinburgh, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science
- Chloe Fawns-Ritchie, University of Edinburgh, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science
- Professor John Gallacher, Cardiff University, Primary Care & Public Health
Diet Questionnaire
More than 175,000 people completed a dietary recall questionnaire at least once
Between February 2011 and June 2012, we invited participants to complete a dietary recall questionnaire on four occasions, providing details of what they had eaten and drunk in the previous 24 hours.
Diet is one of the most important factors influencing our health. Researchers are using this data about what our participants eat and in what quantities, in order to understand the relationship between diet and disease.
About the questionnaire contributors
Questionnaire contributors and institution at the time of their contribution:
- Vicky Benson, University of Oxford, Cancer Epidemiology Unit
- Professor Dame Valerie Beral, University of Oxford, Cancer Epidemiology Unit
- Professor Tim Key, University of Oxford, Cancer Epidemiology Unit
- Dr Bette Liu, University of Oxford, Cancer Epidemiology Unit
- Elizabeth Spencer, University of Oxford, Cancer Epidemiology Unit
- Heather Young, University of Oxford, Cancer Epidemiology Unit
Research stories using questionnaire data
Read a selection of stories about how healthcare is being changed by discoveries made with questionnaire data.
UK Biobank participants’ genetic data and questionnaire answers reveal some of the biological underpinnings of pain – raising hope of new therapies for the billions of people who experience persistent pain.
Almost 180,000 UK Biobank participants answered over 160 questions about their sleeping habits. The results could revolutionise treatments for sleep disorders and reveal how sleep keeps us healthy.
World’s largest DNA analysis of people with depression reveals hundreds of inherited genetic differences, which could eventually help to match people with an antidepressant that works for them.