Longitudinal study of generations and mental health
Published: 1971
Language: eng
Format: computer file
Subjects: Intergenerational relations; Longitudinal studies; Aging parents; Mental health; Family relationships
Description: The purpose of this ongoing longitudinal panel study of aging parents and their families was to investigate changes in family intergenerational social supports and their impact on individual mental health. The study also explored how the mental health of individual family members changes over time (using four longitudinal sequences with multiple cohorts), and how psychological well-being, changes within each generation, cultural environment and genetic endowment influence individual mental health.

Initiated in 1971, the study began with a sample of 345 multi-generation families followed at five timepoints occurring in 1971-1972, 1984-1985, 1988-1990, 1991, 1994, and 1997. The project originally began as a cross-sectional study of three-generational families, examining the effects of intergenerational similarities and conflicts on mental health. Data were collected from 2,044 respondents at Time 1 (1971-1972), 1,331 respondents at Time 2 (1984-1985), 1,483 respondents at Time 3 (1988); 1,734 respondents at Time 4 (1991), and 1,682 respondents at Time 5 (1994). At Time 4, Time 5, and Time 6, a new cohort of Generation 4 (great grandchildren) family members was added consisting of 116 females and 82 males and averaging 20 years of age. The generational cohorts followed comprised of a grandparent (later great-grandparent) generation (G1), a parent (later grandparent) generation (G2), and grandchild (later parent) generation (G3), and finally a great grandchild generation (G4). Variables assessed focused on demographic, sociological, psychological, health, and familial relations at Time 1, Time 2, Time 3, and Time 4 for grandparents (G1); parents (G2); grandchildren (G3); great grandchildren (G4).

The Murray Center holds computer data from the Time 1 survey and from the Time 2, Time 3, and Time 4 questionnaires for grandparents (G1), parents (G2), grandchildren (G3), and great grandchildren (G4) at Time 4. Data collected from each timepoint is restricted from use for six years after the time of data collection. Data from Time 5 and Time 6 are not available at this time.
Notes: Sample characteristics: sample size: over 1000; time: 70s, 80s, 90's; race: White, African-American, Latina/Latino, other; age: 18-22, 23-29, 30-39, 40-49,50-59, 60-69, 70+; number of generations: 4+; gender: female, male; ses: middle, working.

Data collection methods: design: longitudinal, field study; length of data collection: 21-50 years; measures: questionnaire.

Follow-up possible: yes; follow-up available: no.