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Ageing in Women and Men: A Longitudinal Study of Gender Differences in Health Behaviour and Health among Elderly (GENDER)

The Longitudinal Study of Gender Differences in Health Behaviour and Health among Elderly (GENDER) is a study of unlike-sex twin pairs born between 1906 and 1925 (Gold et al., 2002). Sub-studies: • A survey concerning health and health behaviors was mailed in 1994 with responses from 1210 twins from 605 pairs where both responded. Mean age at baseline assessment was 74.43 years (SD 4.28) and all were Caucasians. • A baseline in-person evaluation of 498 twins from 249 pairs between 70 and 80 years of age was undertaken between 1995 and 1997, and included an interview and tests of cognitive and physical functioning. • Two additional in-person waves followed at four-year intervals (1999-2001 and 2003-2005). • Finally, a second survey was mailed in 2007 to all living twins who participated in the first mailed survey. The main interest of the study was gender differences in health and health behaviors in old age. Questions about subjective health, use of healthcare, and behaviors and attitudes related to health, perceived ADL capacity, personality and social networks, formal and informal care etc. are available. Measures of grip-strength, vital capacity, blood pressure, a number of exercises related to muscle strength and balance, and cognitive functions are available. Blood values and genotyping are also available.
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https://neardb.near-aging.se/study/gender
Download documentation (3 files / 3.1 MiB)

Documentation files

  • Gender_Q1_sv.pdf
    2.64 MiB
  • GENDFORMipt2.DOC.pdf
    248.65 KiB
  • GENDFORMipt3.DOC.pdf
    229.34 KiB

Citation and access

Data access level:

Creator/Principal investigator(s):

Research principal:

Data contains personal data:

Yes

Type of personal data:

Pseudonymised health data

Code key exists:

Yes

Sensitive personal data:

Yes

Citation:

Language:

Method and outcome

Unit of analysis:

Population:

Opposite-sex twins born between 1906 and 1925 and living in Sweden in 1994.

Time method:

Study design:

  • Observational study
  • Cohort study
  • Cohort study: Prospective

Description of study design:

A pilot study in the form of a survey was conducted in 1994. A baseline in-person evaluation of 498 twins from 249 pairs between 70 and 80 years of age was undertaken between 1995 and 1997. Two additional in-person waves followed at four-year intervals. Finally, a second survey was mailed in 2007 to all living twins who participated in the first mailed survey. 1994: 418 variables 1995-1997: 841 variables 1999-2001: 891 variables 2003-2005: 881 variables 2007: 315 variables

Sampling procedure:

Description of sampling:

Opposite-sex twin pairs born between 1906 and 1925 were identified in the Swedish Twin Registry and invited to participate in the study.

Time period(s) investigated:

Data format/data structure:

Samples/material Collected from scientific collection/biobank

Name:

GENDER

Type(s) of sample:

Blood tests

Data collections 5 collections

Data collection Self-administered questionnaire

Mode of collection:

Self-administered questionnaire

Description of the mode of collection:

A postal survey was sent in 1994 to unlike sex twin pairs aged 70-80 identified from the Swedish Twin Registry. Questions about subjective health, medicine consumption and behaviors and attitudes related to health, perceived ADL capacity, personality and social networks, formal and informal care etc. are available.

Time period(s) for data collection:

1994 - 1994

Number of responses:

1210

Source of the data:

  • Population group

Data collection Interview

Mode of collection:

Interview

Description of the mode of collection:

Interview and tests of cognitive and physical functioning.

Time period(s) for data collection:

1995 - 1997

Number of responses:

498

Source of the data:

  • Population group

Instrument

Name:

Interview and tests of cognitive and physical functioning.

Data collection Interview

Mode of collection:

Interview

Description of the mode of collection:

Interview and tests of cognitive and physical function

Time period(s) for data collection:

1999 - 2001

Number of responses:

498

Source of the data:

  • Population group

Data collection Interview

Mode of collection:

Interview

Description of the mode of collection:

Interview and tests of cognitive and physical function.

Time period(s) for data collection:

2003 - 2005

Number of responses:

306

Source of the data:

  • Population group

Data collection Self-administered questionnaire

Mode of collection:

Self-administered questionnaire

Time period(s) for data collection:

2007 - 2007

Number of responses:

356

Source of the data:

  • Population group

Geographic coverage

Geographic location:

Geographic description:

All counties in Sweden

Administrative information

Responsible department/unit:

College of Health and Welfare

Ethics Review:

Swedish Ethical Review Authority - 2021-02095

Funding

Funding agency:

  • FNR through SFR

Funding agency:

  • FAS (currently FORTE)

Funding agency:

  • Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson foundation

Funding agency:

  • The MacArthur Foundation

Funding agency:

  • King Gustav V's memorial fund

Topic and keywords

CESSDA Topic Classification:

Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2025:

Keywords:

Relations

Homepage:

Publications

Citation:

Gold, C. H., Malmberg, B., McClearn, G. E., Pedersen, N. L., & Berg, S. (2002). Gender and health: A study of older unlike-sex twins. Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57B, S168-S176.

Contact

Metadata

Version 1
doris
Jönköping University
Published:|Updated: