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The Americans' Changing Lives (ACL) survey series is an ongoing, nationally representative, longitudinal study focusing especially on differences between Black and White Americans in middle and late life. These data constitute the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth waves in a panel survey covering a wide range of sociological, psychological, mental, and physical health items. Wave I of the study began in 1986 with a nation face-to-face survey of 3,617 adults ages 25 and up, with Black Americans and people aged 60 and over over-sampled at twice the rate of the others. Wave II constitutes face-to-face re-interviews in 1989 of those still alive. Survivors have been re-interviewed by telephone, and when necessary face-to-face, in 1994 (Wave III), 2001/02 (Wave IV), 2011 (Wave V), and 2019/21 (Wave VI).

Please note that for Wave VI, the majority of data collection occurred in 2019, with only a small subset (n=39) of participants surveyed in 2021.

ACL was designed and sought to investigate the following: (1) The ways in which a wide range of activities and social relationships that people engage in are broadly "productive," (2) how individuals adapt to acute life events and chronic stresses that threaten the maintenance of health, effective functioning, and productive activity, and (3) sociocultural variations in the nature, meaning, determinants, and consequences of productive activity and relationships. Among the topics covered are interpersonal relationships (spouse/partner, children, parents, friends), sources and levels of satisfaction, social interactions and leisure activities, traumatic life events (physical assault, serious illness, divorce, death of a loved one, financial or legal problems), perceptions of retirement, health behaviors (smoking, alcohol consumption, overweight, rest), and utilization of health care services (doctor visits, hospitalization, nursing home institutionalization, bed days). Also included are measures of physical health, psychological well-being, and indices referring to cognitive functioning.

Demographic information provided for individuals includes household composition, number of children and grandchildren, employment status, occupation and work history, income, family financial situation, religious beliefs and practices, ethnicity, race, education, sex, and region of residence.

This data collection is part of a longitudinal survey designed to provide detailed information on the economic situation of households and persons in the United States. These data examine the distribution of income, wealth, and poverty in American society and gauge the effects of federal and state programs on the well-being of families and individuals.

There are three basic elements contained in the survey. The first is a control card that records basic social and demographic characteristics for each person in a household, as well as changes in such characteristics over the course of the interviewing period. These include age, sex, race, ethnic origin, marital status, household relationship, education, and veteran status. Limited data are provided on housing unit characteristics such as units in structure, tenure, access, and complete kitchen facilities. The second element is the core portion of the questionnaire, with questions repeated at each interview on labor force activity, types and amounts of income, and participation in various cash and noncash benefit programs for each month of the four-month reference period. Data for employed persons include number of hours and weeks worked, earnings, and weeks without a job. Nonworkers are classified as unemployed or not in the labor force. In addition to providing income data associated with labor force activity, the core questions cover nearly 50 other types of income. Core data also include postsecondary school attendance, public or private subsidized rental housing, low-income energy assistance, and school breakfast and lunch participation. The third element consists of topical modules, which are a series of supplemental questions asked during selected household visits.

Topical modules include some core data to link individuals to the core files.

The Wave 1 Topical Module covers recipiency and employment history. The Wave 2 Topical Module includes work disability, education and training, marital, migration, and fertility histories, and household relationships. The Wave 3 Topical Module covers medical expenses and utilization of health care, work-related expenses and child support, assets and liabilities, real estate, shelter costs, dependent care and vehicles, value of business, interest earning accounts, rental properties, stocks and mutual fund shares, mortgages, and other assets. The Wave 4 Topical Module covers disability, taxes, child care, and annual income and retirement accounts. Data in the Wave 5 Topical Module describe child support, school enrollment and financing, support for nonhousehold members, adult and child disability, and employer-provided health benefits. Data in the Wave 6 Topical Module provide information on medical expenses, work-related expenses and child support paid, assets and liabilities, real estate, shelter costs, dependent care and vehicles, value of business, interest-earning accounts, rental properties, stock and mutual fund shares, mortgages, other financial investments. Wave 7 Topical Module includes annual income and retirement accounts, home health care, retirement expectations and pension plan coverage, and taxes. Wave 8 Topical Module covers adult well-being and welfare reform. Wave 9 Topical Module is the same as Waves 3 and 6 Topical Modules. Wave 10 Topical Module focuses on work schedules, disablility, taxes, child care, and annual income and retirement. Wave 11 includes child support, support for nonhousehold members, and adult and child disability. Wave 12 Topical Module is the same as Waves 3, 6, and 9 but also includes child well-being.