Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, 1957-2022 (ICPSR 6163)
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Michal Engelman, University of Wisconsin-Madison;
Pamela Herd, University of Michigan. Institute for Social Research;
Robert M. Hauser, University of Wisconsin-Madison;
William H. Sewell, University of Wisconsin-Madison
This is an external resource to which ICPSR links as a courtesy. These data are not available from ICPSR. Users should consult the data owners (via Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, 1957-2022) directly for details on obtaining these resources.
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The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) is a long-term study of a random sample of 10,317 men and women who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957. The WLS provides an opportunity to study the life course, intergenerational transfers and relationships, family functioning, physical and mental health and well-being, and morbidity and mortality from late adolescence through 2025. WLS data also cover social background, youthful aspirations, schooling, military service, labor market experiences, family characteristics and events, social participation, psychological characteristics and retirement.
Survey data were collected from the original respondents (the graduates) in 1957, 1964, 1975, 1992, 2004, 2011, 2020 and 2022; from their parents in 1957 and 1964; from a selected sibling in 1977, 1994, 2005, 2011, 2020 and 2022; from the spouse of the original respondent in 2004; and from the spouse of the selected sibling in 2006.
The collection of cognitive function data among graduates and siblings under the ILIAD study (MPIS: Sanjay Asthana, Michal Engelman, and Pamela Herd) began in 2020 to measure risk and resilience of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) as the cohort reaches their 80s. Data from 2020 and 2022 have been released, and 2025 and 2027 wave releases are forthcoming.
The WLS also has extensive administrative linkages, including with the 1940 and 1950 census, Social Security records, voting participation, and Medicare claims data.
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- ICPSR provides a description of this study, but full data and documentation are available via the WLS website.
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Users are strongly encouraged to visit the website for information on new data releases, related publications, and helpful documentation about working with the WLS data. Contact WLS for directly with questions: wls@ssc.wisc.edu