1958 National Child Development Study

The National Child Development Study (NCDS) is a longitudinal study which follows the lives of 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1958. Also known as the 1958 Birth Cohort Study, it collects information on physical and educational development, economic circumstances, employment, family life, health behaviour, wellbeing, social participation and attitudes.

Since the birth survey in 1958, there have been nine further ‘sweeps’ of all cohort members at ages 7, 11, 16, 23, 33, 42, 46, 50 and 55. In 2003 (at age 45), 9,000 cohort members also participated in a special bio-medical survey to learn more about how development, environments and lifestyles affect people’s health. CLS will carry out a new survey of the NCDS cohort at age 60 in 2018.

NCDS is part of CLOSER (Cohort & Longitudinal Studies Enhancement Resources) which aims to maximise the use, value and impact of the UK’s longitudinal studies.

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 15,000 to 19,999
Ages 0 to 9|10 to 19|20 to 39|40 to 59|60 to 100
Brain related measures
Funtional rating Individual physiological|Individual psychological
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Hearing and Vision|Musculoskeletal|Reproductive|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood|Saliva
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Ethnic group|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Income and finances|Informal support|Martial status|Occupation and employment|Unpaid care
Health service utilisation
Institute names Centre for Longitudinal Studies
Current Sample Sizes 15,000 to 19,999

age at recruitment 0
last updated
recruitment period 1958
estimated current sample size number value 9,790
cohort acronym NCDS
start date 1958
pi Professor Alissa Goodman
website http://www.cls.ioe.ac.uk/ncds
contact details Centre for Longitudinal Studies
Institute of Education
20 Bedford Way
London
WC1H 0AL
abstract  The National Child Development Study (NCDS) is a longitudinal study which follows the lives of 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1958.
funders  Economic and Social Research Council
contact email [email protected]
contact phone number +44 (0)20 7612 6875
estimated current sample size 5,000 to 9,999
sample sizes 17,415