Midlife in the United States (MIDUS Refresher 2), 2022-2024 (ICPSR 39670)
Version Date: Feb 10, 2026 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
David R. Williams, Harvard School of Public Health;
Margie E. Lachman, Brandeis University;
Robert F. Krueger, University of Minnesota;
Joseph G. Grzywacz, San Jose State University;
Daniel K. Mroczek, Northwestern University;
Stacey M. Schaefer, University of Wisconsin-Madison;
Jieun Song, University of Wisconsin-Madison;
David M. Almeida, Pennsylvania State University;
Steven W. Cole, University of California-Los Angeles;
Deborah S. Carr, Boston University
Series:
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39670.v1
Version V1
Alternate Title View help for Alternate Title
Summary View help for Summary
In 2011-2014, the MIDUS Refresher study recruited a national probability sample of 3,577 adults, aged 25 to 74, designed to replenish the original MIDUS 1 baseline cohort and paralleling the age groups of the MIDUS 1 baseline survey in 1995. The MIDUS Refresher survey employed the same comprehensive assessments as existing MIDUS sample, with additional questions about the effect of the Great Recession in 2008-09. Survey data were collected on demographic, psychosocial, and health and well-being information.
In 2022-2024, the second wave of survey data (MIDUS Refresher 2) was collected on longitudinal participants, including the questions (1) repeated from the Refresher 1, (2) new impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic replacing the questions related to the Great Recession in the Refresher 1, and (3) the additional questions in selected areas (e.g., AD8, IADL, family history of dementia). This new longitudinal MIDUS data allow examination of period effects on health and well-being related to the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing the pre-pandemic MIDUS Refresher 1 data with the post-pandemic MIDUS Refresher 2 data. Further, the longitudinal MIDUS Refresher datasets (Wave 1 and Wave 2) allow investigation of the two major macro-level historic events, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, on health and well-being across various population groups in the U.S.
Citation View help for Citation
Export Citation:
Funding View help for Funding
Subject Terms View help for Subject Terms
Geographic Coverage View help for Geographic Coverage
Distributor(s) View help for Distributor(s)
Time Period(s) View help for Time Period(s)
Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection
Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes
- The variable MRID is the linking variable for the datasets in this collection.
- For more information on the MIDUS Refresher Project, please see the MIDUS website.
Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to seek to understand how factors in the lives of American adults such as working conditions, relationships, health, finances, personal outlooks and individual choices impact health and well-being as individuals age from early adulthood to later life. The second wave of the study with the refresher sample, known as MIDUS R2, also sought to shed light on how U.S. adults have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and how these experiences are linked with their health, broadly defined.
Study Design View help for Study Design
Participants were recruited into MIDUS R2 via an initial 45-minute telephone interview and were then invited to complete 100-page mail questionnaire and a 35-minute cognitive interview via telephone
From October 2022, through December 2024, 2,154 respondents completed the initial telephone interviews, 1,711 returned self-administered questionnaires (SAQs), and 1,700 participated in the cognitive interviews. In addition, family members of 24 respondents, who were deceased, participated in a brief mortality cognitive closeout interview.
Sample View help for Sample
The University of Wisconsin Survey center sought to re-interview living MIDUS longitudinal sample who had completed the MR1 telephone interview. MR1 participants were removed from the sampling pool who were known to be deceased, who had withdrawn from the study, or who were deemed cognitively unable to participate in future efforts. The total N of eligible participants was 3,247. See the MIDUS field report for additional information.
Time Method View help for Time Method
Universe View help for Universe
Non-institutionalized English-speaking adults in the United States.
Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation
Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)
Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection
Response Rates View help for Response Rates
The response rate for the MIDUS R2 telephone interview was 68%. The response rate for the MIDUS R2 self-administered questionnaire was 80%.
Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales
Please see the "Documentation Of Psychosocial Constructs and Composite Variables MIDUS Refresher 2" file for complete information regarding the scales for the MIDUS Refresher 2 data collection.
HideWeight View help for Weight
Please see the "Documentation of Post- Stratification Weights Created for MIDUS Refresher 2 (MR2)" file for more information on the creation of post-stratification weights.
HideNotes
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
ICPSR usually offers files in multiple formats for researchers to be able to access data and documentation in formats that work well within their needs. If you have questions about the accessibility of materials distributed by ICPSR or require further assistance, please visit ICPSR’s Accessibility Center.