Midlife in the United States (MIDUS 2), 2004-2006

In 1995-1996, the MacArthur Midlife Research Networkcarried out a national survey of 7,108 Americans aged 25 to 74(MIDLIFE IN THE UNITED STATES (MIDUS),1995-1996 [ICPSR 2760]). The purpose of the study was to investigatethe role of behavioral, psychological, and social factors inunderstanding age-related differences in physical and mentalhealth. The study was innovative for its broad scientific scope, itsdiverse samples (which included twins and the siblings of main samplerespondents), and its creative use of in-depth assessments in keyareas (e.g., daily stress and cognitive functioning). A description ofthe study and findings from it are available athttp://www.midus.wisc.edu. With support from the National Institute on Aging, a longitudinal follow-up of the original MIDUS samples: core sample (N = 3,487), metropolitan over-samples (N = 757), twins (N = 925 complete pairs), and siblings (N = 950), was conducted in 2004-2006. Guiding hypotheses for it, at the mostgeneral level, were that behavioral and psychosocial factors areconsequential for physical and mental health. MIDUS II respondents wereaged 35 to 86. Data collection largely repeated baseline assessments(e.g., phone interview and extensive self-administered questionnaire),with additional questions in selected areas (e.g., cognitivefunctioning, optimism and coping, stressful life events, andcaregiving). To add refinements to MIDUS II, an African American sample(N = 592) was recruited from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who participated ina personal interview and completed a questionnaire paralleling theabove assessments. Also administered was a modified form of the mailquestionnaire, via telephone, to respondents who did not complete aself-administered questionnaire.