National survey of midlife development in the United States.

Abstract

The National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) was first funded by the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Midlife Development. An interdisciplinary network of scholars from multiple disciplines such as psychology, epidemiology, and sociology was involved with the project. Some prominent investigators of the original MIDUS development included Orville Brim (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation on Successful Midlife Development), Paul Baltes (Max Planck Institute for Human Development), and Ronald Kessler (Harvard Medical School). The focus of MIDUS was conceptually broad, examining a collection of behavioral, psychological, and social factors associated with age-related variations in health and well-being extending from midlife into older adulthood (Brim, Ryff, & Kessler, 2004). Data collection began from 1995 through 1996, with the original MIDUS sample consisting of 7,108 predominantly Caucasian participants aged 25 to 74 years. This wide age range combined with strategic sampling design captures the developmental variation needed to examine the foundations of midlife change and aging processes. Along with the national probability sample (N1⁄4 3,487), MIDUS also includes a selective oversampling of metropolitan areas (N1⁄4 757), a sibling sample of the main respondents (N1⁄4 950), and a national sample of twin pairs (N1⁄4 1,914). With a diverse team of coinvestigators, MIDUS measures were oriented to collect a wide array of information in different content areas. Content areas included demographic and life history factors, physical and mental health histories, behavioral patterns, relationship and social network characteristics, exercise and dietary activities, occupational information, childhood characteristics, religiousness, financial data, and future interests and hopes. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development 2014, Vol. 79(4) 329–331 ! The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0091415015574174 ahd.sagepub.com