DOI: 10.3886/icpsr37105.v1
title: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), 2012-2013
title: Version 1

description: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) is a major inter-institutional initiative led by Trinity College Dublin which aims to produce a massive improvement in the quantity and quality of data, research and information relating to older people and ageing in Ireland. Eligible respondents for this study include individuals aged 50 and over and their spouses or partners of any age. The study involves interviews on a two yearly basis with a sample cohort of 8,504 people aged 50 and over (or their spouses/partners) and resident in Ireland, collecting detailed information on all aspects of their lives, including the economic (pensions, employment, living standards), health (physical, mental, service needs and usage) and social aspects (contact with friends and kin, formal and informal care, social participation). Both survey interviews and physical and biological measurements are utilized.The second wave of TILDA interviews were undertaken between February 2012 and March 2013. Of the 8,504 interviewed in Wave 1, a second interview was obtained for 7,445 respondents. These consisted of the self, proxy and end-of-life interviews types. In addition to the returning respondents, 170 interviews were obtained from eligible household members who had chosen not to take part in Wave 1 or the new spouses/partners of existing respondents. Demographic and background variables include age, sex, marital status, household composition, education, and employment.
description: This research aims to produce a massive improvement in the quantity and quality of data, research and information relating to older people and ageing in Ireland.
description: As with most longitudinal studies, TILDA exhibits differential attrition of participants between Wave 1 and Wave 2 (i.e. the attrition of participants is higher in some groups compared to others). Thus direct estimates from Wave 2 data and of changes between Wave 1 and Wave 2 data will not be fully representative of those changes in the target population without further weighting to account for this attrition between waves. Future public releases of the TILDA Wave 2 data will contain weight information to account for this.
description: Response Rates: 86 percent
description: Presence of Common Scales: Several commonly used scales have been constructed based on the CAPI and SCQ data and these are included along with other derived variables. Derived variables are prefixed with an uppercase code which indicates the research area to which they relate. Please see the derived variable codebooks for more information on these variables.
description: The sample design incorporates stratification, clustering, multi-stage selection, and representative probability sampling. The dataset contains the cluster variables CLUSTER and HOUSEHOLD. The selection of geographic clusters was stratified, so that equal numbers of clusters were selected from each of three socio-economic groups. The socio-economic status of a cluster was defined by the proportion of individuals in that cluster. Please refer to the Release Guide for additional information on sampling.
description: Datasets: DS1: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), 2012-2013
description: Individuals aged 50 years and older and their spouses or partners of any age, who are resident in Ireland.
description: computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI); face-to-face interview; mail questionnaire; self-enumerated questionnaireThese data were organized by Ipsos-MORI.ESRI - Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin, Ireland were special collaborators.Additional information about The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing can be found at the TILDA Web site.