Wisconsin Longitudinal Study

The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) is a longitudinal population cohort started in 1957, with a questionnaire administered to all Wisconsin High School seniors. In 1964, a randomly selected one-third of the members of the class of 1957 were followed up with a brief questionnaire to parents asking about their child’s post high-school education and occupation. Direct contact with the graduate began with a telephone interview in 1975, and subsequent telephone and mail surveys in 1993 2004. In 1977 a subset of graduate’s siblings were interviewed by phone and in 1995 and 2005 interviews were conducted with one sibling from each family whenever possible. Spouses of Graduates and Siblings who were married at the time of the 2004/2005 interview were also interviewed by phone. Most recently in-person interviews with a leave-behind questionnaire were administered in 2011 to both the graduate and sibling panels. Saliva was collected from both graduate and sibling participants via a mail-effort in 2008 and during the in-person 2011 interview.

Last Update 21/09/2017 

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries USA
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 20,000 to 49,999
Ages 10 to 19|20 to 39|40 to 59|60 to 100
Brain related measures Behaviour|Cognitive function|Neurological
Funtional rating Individual psychological
Anthropometric Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Hearing and Vision|Respiratory
Biological samples Microbiome|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|Marital status|Occupation and employment|Unpaid care
Health service utilisation
Institute names University of Wisconsin-Madison
Current Sample Sizes 20,000 to 49,999

age at recruitment >17
last updated
recruitment period 1957
estimated current sample size number value 9364
cohort acronym WLS
start date 1957
pi Dr. Pamela Herd
website http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/wlsresearch/
contact details
abstract  WLS is a longitudinal population cohort started in 1957 which gives reserachers the opportunity to study the life course, intergenerational transfers and relationships, family functioning, physical, mental health and well-being of 22,334 participants.
funders  University of Wisconsin-Madison
1180 Observatory Drive
Madison
53706
Wisconsin, US
contact email Dr. Carol L Roan email: [email protected] PI email: [email protected]
contact phone number (608) 265-6196
estimated current sample size 5,000 to 9,999
sample sizes 22334