Midlife in the United States (MIDUS 2), 2004-2006

In 1995-1996, the MacArthur Midlife Research Network
carried out a national survey of 7,108 Americans aged 25 to 74
(MIDLIFE IN THE UNITED STATES (MIDUS),
1995-1996 [ICPSR 2760]). The purpose of the study was to investigate
the role of behavioral, psychological, and social factors in
understanding age-related differences in physical and mental
health. The study was innovative for its broad scientific scope, its
diverse samples (which included twins and the siblings of main sample
respondents), and its creative use of in-depth assessments in key
areas (e.g., daily stress and cognitive functioning). A description of
the study and findings from it are available at
http://www.midus.wisc.edu. With support from the National Institute on Aging, a longitudinal follow-up of the original MIDUS samples: core sample (N = 3,487), metropolitan over-samples (N = 757), twins (N = 925 complete pairs), and siblings (N = 950), was conducted in 2004-2006. Guiding hypotheses for it, at the most
general level, were that behavioral and psychosocial factors are
consequential for physical and mental health. MIDUS 2 respondents were
aged 35 to 86. Data collection largely repeated baseline assessments
(e.g., phone interview and extensive self-administered questionnaire),
with additional questions in selected areas (e.g., cognitive
functioning, optimism and coping, stressful life events, and
caregiving). To add refinements to MIDUS 2, an African American sample
(N = 592) was recruited from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who participated in
a personal interview and completed a questionnaire paralleling the
above assessments. Survey data for the Milwaukee sample are available in a separate project [ICPSR 22840]. Also administered was a modified form of the mail questionnaire, via telephone, to respondents who did not complete a
self-administered questionnaire.