Midlife in the U.S

The first wave of the MIDUS study collected survey data from a total of 7,108 participants. The baseline sample was comprised of individuals from four subsamples:

1. a national RDD (random digit dialing) sample (n=3,487);
2. oversamples from five metropolitan areas in the U.S. (n=757)
3. siblings of individuals from the RDD sample (n=950); and (4) a national RDD sample of twin pairs (n=1,914).

All eligible participants were non-institutionalized, English-speaking adults in the coterminous United States, aged 25 to 74. Data from the above samples were collected primarily in 1995/96.

Last update – 03/02/2017

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries USA
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 5,000 to 9,999
Ages 20 to 39|40 to 59|60 to 100
Brain related measures Behaviour|Mental health|Neurological
Funtional rating Individual psychological
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Musculoskeletal|Reproductive|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood|Saliva|Urine
Genotyping
Brain imaging Electroencephalogram (EEG)|Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Brain banking
Lifestyle Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Ethnic group|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Income and finances|Informal support|Marital status|Occupation and employment|Unpaid care
Health service utilisation Formal health and social care service utilisation including private care
Institute names UW-Madison Institute on Aging
Current Sample Sizes 5,000 to 9,999

age at recruitment 25-74
last updated
recruitment period 1995-6
estimated current sample size number value
cohort acronym MIDUS
start date 1995-6
pi Dr Carol Ryff
website http://midus.wisc.edu/scopeofstudy.php
contact details Dr. Barry Radler, University of Wisconsin – Madison Institute on Aging, 1300 University Avenue, 2245 MSC, Madison, Wisconsin,53706-1532
abstract  MIDUS is a population cohort with the aim of investigating the role of behavioural, psychological, and social factors in age-related variations in health and well-being. The study recruited 7,108 participants, 25 to 74 years old between 1995 and 1996.
funders  National Institute on Aging (NIA)
contact email [email protected]
contact phone number 608 262 1818
estimated current sample size
sample sizes 7108