PROJECT PAGE
Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA)
The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA) was established some two decades ago in Adelaide, South Australia. At Baseline in 1992, 2087 participants living in the community or in residential care (ranging in age from 65 to 103 years) were interviewed in their place of residence (1031 or 49% women), including 565 couples. The final wave (Wave 13) of data collection was carried out in 2014. Data collected included self-reports of demographic details, health, depression, morbid conditions, hospitalization, gross mobility, physical performance, activities of daily living, lifestyle activities, social resources, exercise, education and income. Objective performance data for physical and cognitive function were also collected. The ALSA data are held at the Flinders Centre for Ageing Studies, Flinders University.
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Mary Luszcz
General Information
Country of Data Collection: Australia
Years of Data Collection: 1992-2014
Study Status: Completed
Total Number of Assessments Completed: 13
Approx. Retention Rate: 85% (87% of sample is deceased by last wave)
Sample
Composition: Community sample; Family Study (targets, spouses — 565 couples)
Sex
SES
Race/Ethnicity
Personality Data
Construct
Self-Esteem
Agitation
Loneliness
Mastery
Perceived Control
Depression
Purpose in Life
Scale
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale
Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale
Pearlin Mastery Scale
Expectancy of Control Scale
Center for Epidem. Studies of Dep.
Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scale
Waves
T1, T3, T6-T13
T1, T3, T6, T7, T9, T11, T12
T1, T3, T6, T7, T9, T11, T12
T7, T9, T11, T12
T1, T3, T6, T7, T9, T11, T12
T1, T3, T6, T7, T9, T11, T12, T13
T5, T8, T10, T11, T12
Method
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
affect / EMotion
cognitive functioning
cognitive tasks
happiness, life satisfaction, well-being
life events
mental health
physical health
physiological measures
relationships
Data Access
Codebook Available Online: Yes, https://dataverse.ada.edu.au/file.xhtml?fileId=16441&version=1.0
Data Available Online: Yes, but need to request access.
Project Proposal Required to Use Data: Yes, use the ALSA Request Form.doc outlined in the User Manual
Contact
Contact: alsa@flinders.edu.au