SIMONE CROFTUSING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE COHORT

STUDIES

4 JEWELS IN THE ESRC CROWN

• National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD)• National Child Development Study (NCDS)• 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70)• Millennium Cohort Study (MCS)

• Address health and social policy questions• Scientific interests• Life course approach, birth -> grave• Over 2,500 studies worldwide using the 4 studies

NATIONAL SURVEY OF HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT (NSHD)

• Medical Research Council Survey

• Aims• Childhood: how home & school environment affect physical &

mental development and educational attainment • Adulthood: how childhood and social circumstances affect

adult health and function; how these change with age.• Retirement: biological and social issues associated with

ageing

• Population: • Over 13,000 mothers given birth in one week in March 1946• England, Scotland & Wales• 5,362 subsample (socially stratified, singleton, married

parents)• 23 follow-ups• Cohort members currently 69

NATIONAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT STUDY (NCDS)

• Perinatal Mortality Survey

• Aims • Birth: social and obstetric factors associated with still births

and neo-natal deaths• Childhood: health, education and social development• Adulthood: school -> work, intergenerational relationships,

health inequalities, marriage, parenthood

• Population• Over 17,500 mothers given birth in one week in 1958• England, Scotland, Wales• All members followed up age 7, 11, 16, 23, 33, 42, 45, 50, 55.• 9000 members provided biomedical data in 2003 (age 45)• Cohort members currently 57

1970 BRITISH COHORT STUDY (BCS70)

• National Birthday Trust Fund & R.C. Gynae & Obstetricians

• Aims • Socio-economic circumstances, family background, cognitive

development, educational achievement, employment, partnership histories and health-related behaviours.

• Population• Over 17,000 mothers given birth in one week in 1970• England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland• All members followed up age 5, 10, 16, 26, 30, 34, 38 and 42• 4 day dietary diary provided by members at age 16• Cohort members currently 44

MILLENNIUM COHORT STUDY (MCS)

• Economic & Social Research Council; Dept for Children, Schools & Families; Dept for Health; Dept Work & Pensions

• Aims • Initial conditions of social, economic and health advantages

and disadvantages facing children born in the C21st• Cover previously neglected topics, e.g. fathers' involvement• Emphasis on parents influence and the wider social ecology

of the family

• Population• Over 19,000 mothers given birth between Sept’00 – Aug’01• England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland• 1st sweep approx. 9 months, then again at 3, 5, 7 and 11• Cohort members currently approx.15

WHAT DATA IS AVAILABLE?

• Quantitative data (questionnaires)• Mother/primary caregiver reports of child members• Self reports in older members• Spouse, father, siblings, grandparents reports• Teacher reports

• External reports• Birth, medical, genetic data• Educational, employment records• National consensus, child benefits records

• Qualitative data: • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avr8C9rO9lg

STRENGTHS

• Life course study – up to 69 years following the same cohort members• Access to external records• Qualitative data available• Support & guidance on using datasets• Very large sample sizes• Cultural/regional comparisons

LIMITATIONS

• Datasets publicly available – duplication• Overwhelming amount of data• High quantity, low quality• Missing data• Lack of autonomy in questions (consultation)• Discontinued measures