Monitoring the Future: Ages 40 and 45 Panel Data, United States, 1998-2021 [Restricted-Use]

The
longitudinal Monitoring the Future (MTF) Panel study extends the work of the cross-sectional MTF Main
study by following a subsample of graduating seniors through the entire adult
life course. The selected respondents are surveyed every two years from ages
19-30. Starting at age 35, respondents are surveyed every five years, at ages
35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 (FZ surveys). The FZ surveys cover many of the same
topics as the 12th grade and follow-up surveys and include additional questions
on life events and health.
This
study contains only the survey data for ages 40 and 45 for the MTF
longitudinal panel study participants that have reached age 40 (FZ2) and/or age
45 (FZ3) through the 2021 data collection.
NOTE:
Users
must also request the core panel data file: MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core
Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223) because
demographic information (e.g. sex, race/ethnicity) for the participants of the
age 40 and 45 surveys is included in the core panel data file.
Researchers
can merge the Age 40-45 study data file with other MTF follow-up data in this
series. This includes:

MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223)
MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 1 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39282)
MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 2 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39325)
MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 3 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39389)
MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 4 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39326)
MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 5 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39283)
MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 6 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1989-2021 (ICPSR 39388)
MTF: Age 35 Panel Data, 1993-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39749)
Forthcoming: MTF panel data for ages, 50-55, and
60

In
addition to questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use, the Age
40 (FZ2) and Age 45 (FZ3) surveys also includes questions covering:

Substance use and its consequences (alcohol,
marijuana/cannabis, other illicit drugs, substance use disorder symptoms)
Methods of marijuana/cannabis use
Own attitudes and perceptions about substance
use
Living arrangements and household
characteristics
Dating, marriage, and significant relationships
Family roles, obligations, burdens
Employment: experiences, income, financial
security, satisfaction
Leisure time
Local and global concerns
Political interest and preferences
Happiness; satisfaction with life domains and
self
Psychosocial constructs: self-esteem, locus of
control, loneliness, risk-taking, boredom
Health symptoms and illnesses, healthy
behaviors, COVID-19

Please see the study documentation
available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific
details, including content areas included in all survey
forms.
HIGHLIGHTS
of this update:

Missing data coding has been changed/simplified
in this release. Please see the User Guide for details.
Panel analysis weights are now included in the
data file instead of a stand-alone file. Please see the updated documentation for information.

Please be alert for variable coding differences
between paper and web survey versions, especially for questions skipped based
on answers to other questions. Note the following:

The web-based version of the survey was
introduced in 2020.
Paper vs. Web coding differences will be most
noticeable for the questions related to substance use, relationship/marital
status, employment, and family composition.
Users will need to explore their data using <strong>V40035/V45035</strong>
(89940:FZ PAPER OR WEB - RESPONSE) to look for and understand any coding differences.

Extensive work has been done to document the
history and use of the MTF substance use disorder questions and criteria. Please see Substance use disorder criteria sums in the Monitoring the
Future Panel Study (Occasional Paper No. 101)
More information about the
MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring
the Future website. Annual
reports are published by the
research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.