Daily Experiences and Well-being in Late Life, Austin, Texas, 2016-2017

The Daily Experiences and Well-Being Study (DEWS) was conducted in 2017 by the University of Michigan Survey Research Center. Adults aged 65 and older were recruited from the greater Austin Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. To be eligible for the study, respondents had to be aged 65 or older, community dwelling, cognitively capable of completing the study, and not working full time. Surveys and interviews were conducted in Spanish or English. After an initial phone screening, a local interviewer contacted the respondent to conduct an in-person interview that lasted approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. They then engaged in a 5-6 day intensive data collection, involving ambulatory assessments. The study provided handheld Android devices (i.e. smart phones) for the additional data collection, as well as training in the use of these devices to complete surveys. The devices gathered self-reports of social interactions, activities and mood every 3 hours via ecological momentary assessments, EMA), recorded conversations 30 seconds out of every 7 minutes, (via electronically activated recordings, EAR), and physical activity every minute measured via actigraphs (Actical). At the end of the intensive data collection, the interviewer returned to the respondent's house to pick up the devices as well as a self-administered Leave-Behind Questionnaire (LBQ). A total of 333 respondents completed the baseline interview, 326 (97.9%) of whom completed device collection. This collection includes an in-person interview (baseline/global), additional device collection (EMA, EAR, Actical), and Leave Behind Questionnaire. These data provide information on how social partners contribute to emotional, physical and cognitive experiences and to daily and global well-being. Demographic information includes age, race, ethnicity, gender, marital status, living arrangement, and education level.