Summary of Data Collected

1946 Contacted -Birth

To show the cost of and care in pregnancy and childbirth.

Costs of maternity, reason for falling fertility.

Ante- and post-natal care, the costs of care, the weight and survival of the baby, and the socioeconomic circumstances of the family.

1947-1950 Contacted - ages 2 and 4

To see whether initial social class differences in size were reflected in growth, and to show the effectiveness of maternal, as well as community maternal and child welfare care.

Social class differences in maternal and child mortality and morbidity.

Measures of height and weight, use of health services and kindergartens, maternal care, morbidity, socio-economic and family circumstances.

1951-1961 Contacted - ages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15

To study family and environmental effects on growth and educational attainment, and the effects of the education system.

Increasing the national level of educational attainment. The 'waste of talent' problem, i.e. the apparently low recruitment of high IQ children from poor socioeconomic circumstances into higher education.

Health measures by school doctors, reports by teachers on temperament and behaviour, and on parents' interest in education, measures of cognitive function and educational attainment, socio-economic and family circumstances.

1962-1981 Contacted - ages 16, 19, 20, 22, 24, 24, 26 and 31

To study the occupational and earnings outcomes of education and cognitive development, and pathways to ability, attainment, and respiratory disease.

Outcomes of education in terms of occupational choice and skills, effects of atmospheric pollution.

Occupation, earnings, social attitudes, respiratory disease, morbidity, and child rearing

1982-2000 Contacted - ages 36,43 and 53 47-54 years (postal questionnaires to women only)

To study pathways to physical and cognitive ageing using data collected throughout life, and change in women's health during the menopause transition.

Ageing processes, self care of health, receptivity to health promotion.

New baseline data on adult function established (e.g. blood pressure, respiratory, cognitive and musculoskeletal function), health of the reproductive system in women, and continuing data collection on morbidity, health related behaviours, use of health services, socioeconomic and family circumstances.

2006-2011 Contacted - ages 60-65

A description of the data collected at the most recent wave can be found here

2014-2016 Contacted Age 68 - Postal questionnaire Age 69-70 - Home visit

To identify social and biological factors that affect lifelong health, ageing and the development of chronic disease risk

Ageing processes, care giving and receiving

Continuing to collect data on adult function (e.g. blood pressure, respiratory, cognitive and musculoskeletal function), morbidity, health related behaviours, use of health and social services, socioeconomic and life circumstances, functional limitation, difficulties with daily household and personal tasks.

2020 - 2021 Contacted Age 74 years

To help researchers understand the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the lives of the study members

COVID-19

Online and postal questionnaires on physical and mental health, family, work and social life.