Midlife in the United States: Core Sample Mortality Data, 1995-2023 (ICPSR 37237)
In 1995-1996, the MacArthur Midlife Research Network carried out a national survey of over 7,000 Americans aged 25 to 74 (ICPSR 2760). The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of behavioral, psychological, and social factors in understanding age-related differences in physical and mental health.
With support from the National Institute on Aging, an initial follow-up of the original Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) samples was conducted in 2004 (MIDUS 2). The daily stress and cognitive functioning projects were repeated at MIDUS 2; in addition the protocol was expanded to include biomarkers and neuroscience. In 2005, a baseline sample of 592 African Americans from Milwaukee was added to MIDUS to examine health issues in minority populations.
In 2013, a third wave (MIDUS 3) of survey data was collected on longitudinal participants. Data collection for this follow-up wave largely repeated baseline assessments (e.g., phone interview and extensive self-administered questionnaire), with additional questions in selected areas (e.g., economic recession experiences, optimism and coping, stressful life events, and caregiving). A third wave of cognitive functioning data and a second wave of the Milwaukee sample were also collected. Data collection for the daily diary, biomarkers, and neuroscience is ongoing. This dataset includes all known MIDUS decedents (N=2,533) from the Core National and Milwaukee samples as of December 2023.
Midlife in the United States (MIDUS Refresher 1): Milwaukee African American Sample, 2012-2013 (ICPSR 36722)
In 2012-2013, the MIDUS Milwaukee Refresher study recruited a sample of 508 Milwaukee African American adults, aged 25 to 64, designed to replenish the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS 2): Milwaukee African American Sample, 2005-2006 (ICPSR 22840). This sample was also designed to increase the number of racial minorities included in the broader MIDUS study. The MIDUS Milwaukee Refresher survey employed the same assessments (demographic, psycho-social, and physical and mental health) as those assembled on the existing MIDUS sample, but with additional questions about the effect of the economic recession of 2008-09. A sample of African Americans from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, was stratified by age, gender, and income.
Area probability sampling methods were used to identify potential respondents. Field interviewers screened households to determine if they contained any African American adults. There was additional screening to achieve an appropriate age/gender distribution in a manner similar to what was done for the original MIDUS sample (Midlife in the United States (MIDUS 1), 1995-1996 [ICPSR 2760]). Milwaukee respondents were interviewed in their homes using a 2.5-hour Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) protocol and afterwards asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire (SAQ). All measures paralleled those used in the larger MIDUS samples. In addition to successful completion of the survey, participants were asked to complete a cognitive assessment by phone. Some respondents were eligible to participate in additional MIDUS projects: daily diary assessments, biomarker assessments, and neuroscience assessments.
Midlife in the United States: Refresher Sample Mortality Data, 2012-2023 (ICPSR 38024)
In 2011-2014, the MIDUS recruited a national probability sample of 3,577 adults, aged 25 to 74, designed to replenish the original MIDUS 1 (M1) baseline cohort and paralleling the five decadal age groups of the M1 baseline survey (ICPSR 2760).
The MIDUS Refresher (MR1) survey included the same comprehensive assessments as those assembled on the original MIDUS Core sample (obtained via interview and self-administered questionnaire), but with additional questions about the effect of the economic recession of 2008-09.
In 2012-2013, the National MIDUS Refresher sample was augmented with a sample of 508 Milwaukee African American adults, aged 25 to 64. This sample was designed to increase the number of racial minorities included in the MIDUS study. The MIDUS Milwaukee Refresher survey also included the same assessments as those in the Milwaukee Core sample (ICPSR 22840) and employed a personal interview. This dataset includes all known decedents from the National (ICPSR 36532) and Milwaukee (ICPSR 36722) Refresher samples, and is current for NDI records through December, 2023.