Summary of Data Collected

Years
Aims of the Study
National Policy Problems
Type of Data Collected
Years
1946 Contacted -Birth
Aims of the Study
To show the cost of and care in pregnancy and childbirth.
National Policy Problems
Costs of maternity, reason for falling fertility.
Type of Data Collected
Ante- and post-natal care, the costs of care, the weight and survival of the baby, and the socioeconomic circumstances of the family.
Years
1947-1950 Contacted - ages 2 and 4
Aims of the Study
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.
National Policy Problems
Social class differences in maternal and child mortality and morbidity.
Type of Data Collected
Measures of height and weight, use of health services and kindergartens, maternal care, morbidity, socio-economic and family circumstances.
Years
1951-1961 Contacted - ages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15
Aims of the Study
To study family and environmental effects on growth and educational attainment, and the effects of the education system.
National Policy Problems
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.
Type of Data Collected
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.
Years
1962-1981 Contacted - ages 16, 19, 20, 22, 24, 24, 26 and 31
Aims of the Study
To study the occupational and earnings outcomes of education and cognitive development, and pathways to ability, attainment, and respiratory disease.
National Policy Problems
Outcomes of education in terms of occupational choice and skills, effects of atmospheric pollution.
Type of Data Collected
Occupation, earnings, social attitudes, respiratory disease, morbidity, and child rearing
Years
1982-2000 Contacted - ages 36,43 and 53 47-54 years (postal questionnaires to women only)
Aims of the Study
To study pathways to physical and cognitive ageing using data collected throughout life, and change in women's health during the menopause transition.
National Policy Problems
Ageing processes, self care of health, receptivity to health promotion.
Type of Data Collected
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.
Years
2006-2011 Contacted - ages 60-65
Aims of the Study
National Policy Problems
Years
2014-2016 Contacted Age 68 - Postal questionnaire Age 69-70 - Home visit
Aims of the Study
To identify social and biological factors that affect lifelong health, ageing and the development of chronic disease risk
National Policy Problems
Ageing processes, care giving and receiving
Type of Data Collected
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.
Years
2020 - 2021 Contacted Age 74 years
Aims of the Study
To help researchers understand the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the lives of the study members
National Policy Problems
COVID-19
Type of Data Collected
Online and postal questionnaires on physical and mental health, family, work and social life.