Social Variations in Health in Early Old Age : Investigation of Precursors in a 60 Year Follow-up Study, 1997-2004

UKDA study number:3976

Principal Investigators

Blane, D.
Berney, L.
Holland, P.
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Science
Davey Smith, G.
University of Bristol. Department of Social Medicine
Stone, J.
Imperial College London. Department of Primary Care and Social Medicine
Wiggins, R.
City University. Department of Sociology
Montgomery, S.
Karolinska Institute. Department of Medicine, Solna. Clinical Epidemiology Unit
Higgs, P.
University College London. Centre for Behavioural and Social Sciences in Medicine
Netuveli, G.
Hildon, Z.
Imperial College London. Division of Epidemiology, Public Health and Primary Care

Sponsor

Economic and Social Research Council

Distributed by

UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.

June 2008 (2nd Edition)

Bibliographic Citation

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Blane, D. et al. , Social Variations in Health in Early Old Age : Investigation of Precursors in a 60 Year Follow-up Study, 1997-2004 [computer file]. 2nd Edition. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], June 2008. SN: 3976.

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Copyright:
Imperial College London

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3976 . Social Variations in Health in Early Old Age : Investigation of Precursors in a 60 Year Follow-up Study, 1997-2004

Depositors:

Blane, D. , Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Science

Stone, J. , Imperial College London. Department of Primary Care and Social Medicine

Principal Investigators:

Blane, D. , Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Science

Davey Smith, G. , University of Bristol. Department of Social Medicine

Berney, L. , Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Science

Holland, P. , Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Science

Stone, J. , Imperial College London. Department of Primary Care and Social Medicine

Wiggins, R. , City University. Department of Sociology

Montgomery, S. , Karolinska Institute. Department of Medicine, Solna. Clinical Epidemiology Unit

Higgs, P. , University College London. Centre for Behavioural and Social Sciences in Medicine

Netuveli, G. , Imperial College London. Division of Epidemiology, Public Health and Primary Care

Hildon, Z. , Imperial College London. Division of Epidemiology, Public Health and Primary Care

Sponsor:

Economic and Social Research Council
Grant Number:
1997: R-000-236-028;
2000: L-480-254-016;
2004: RES-337-25-0001.

Other Acknowledgements:

1997 project:
Stephen Frankel (University of Bristol) - present-day reconstruction of Boyd-Orr dataset;
David Gunnell (University of Bristol - present-day reconstruction of Boyd-Orr dataset; planning and statistics;
Sara Bright (University of Bristol) - administrative support;
Scott Montgomery (Royal Free and University College Medical School) - statistics;
Walter Duncan and Philip James (Rowett Research Institute) - archive support;
Office for National Statistics - tracing of subjects.

Abstract:

The original aims of this project in 1997 were:

• to investigate the processes which generate variations in health in early old age, specifically cumulative differential exposure to health damaging physical environments and their interaction with health
• to identify the respective contributions of childhood circumstances, including health, of adult events and behaviours and of current circumstances to variations in health in early old age
• to collect detailed information on the lives of a random sample of a unique survey population, for use during analyses of the whole survey population. This dataset offers the rare opportunity to examine the development of health and disease across the whole life- course
• to use a research method which has been developed specifically for such purposes
• to produce results which will increase understanding of, and aid the efficient allocation of resources to, an age group which experiences high morbidity and considerable need for medical care

The 2000 project followed participants who were originally interviewed in 1997. The study sought to develop a new, theoretically informed measure of quality of life in early old age, examining whether and to what extent people experience a
‘Third Age’ of independence and satisfaction during the post-retirement phase of life, and what factors may influence this experience.

The 2004 project followed participants who were interviewed in both 1997 and 2000. The aim of this study was to identify, in a small cohort, contextual and life course influences on change in quality of life and physiological status through early old age.

For the second edition (June 2008), follow-up data for 2000 and 2004 were added to the original 1997 data. Additional documentation was also made available.

Main Topics:

The original 1997 dataset contains a full residential and occupational history for 294 subjects.
Basic demographic data includes: parental social class, year of birth, site of original survey, number of siblings, year of marriage, social class of spouse, number of children.
For each residence the data includes: period of residence, house type, number of rooms, tenure, number of occupants, heating, damp, proximity to factories (pre-1960), proximity to A-roads (post-1960), area type.
For each occupation the data includes: period of employment, social class, presence and type of fumes and dusts, was the work arduous, demand-control score.
Current living conditions and health data include: car ownership, number of state and occupational pensions, social class, smoking status, long-standing and limiting illness, medication, blood pressure, spirometry, height, weight, leg length. Total hazard exposure scores are also included.

The 2000 and 2004 datasets contain follow-up questions about the respondent since last in interview and further questions about everyday life, health, retirement and pensions.

Standard Measures
Registrar General's current Classification of Occupations;
height (cms), weight (kgs), forced vital capacity (litres), forced expiratory volume in one second (litres), blood pressure, leg length (cms).

Coverage:

Time Period Covered: 1919 - 2004
Dates of Fieldwork: 1997 - 2004
Country: England; Scotland
Spatial Units: No spatial unit
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Numeric data; Individual (micro) level

Universe Sampled:

Location of Units of Observation: National
Population: Men and women who, as children, had participated in Sir John Boyd Orr's survey of diet and health between 1937 and 1939. The sample was drawn from subjects of the original survey who had been aged five years or over at the time of the original survey, and had been physically examined then.

Methodology:

Time Dimensions: Follow-up to cross-sectional study
Sampling Procedures: One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
See documentation for details
Number of Units:
1997: 294
2000:260
2004:207
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview; Psychological measurements; In 2004 a sub-group of 139 participants also received a home visit for where physiological measures were collected.
Weighting: No weighting used

Language(s) of Written Materials:

Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:

Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: ESDS Access and Preservation, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: help@esds.ac.uk

Date of First Release:

27 May 1999

Date of Latest Release:

10 June 2008 ( 2nd Edition )

Copyright:

Imperial College London

File last updated:

10 June 2008