PROJECT PAGE
VA Normative Aging Study
The Normative Aging Study (NAS) is a longitudinal study of aging in men initiated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 1963. The study panel consists of 2,280 initially healthy men who were enrolled between 1961 and 1970 in the Boston area, and aged 21 to 81 years. Originally, participants reported every 3 years (age 52 or older) or 5 years (younger than age 52) for their exam. Since 1984, a 3-year interval has been used for all men. Beginning in 1987, a month before their scheduled exam, men are mailed a packet of surveys to complete and bring with them to their exam. The objectives of the NAS are to: 1) Characterize the biomedical and psychosocial parameters of normal aging as distinct from the development of disease; 2) Define the incidence and precursors of the diseases accompanying aging; and 3) Examine the influence of lifestyle and major life events on the aging process.
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Pantel Vokonas (pantel.vokonas@va.gov)
Psychosocial Core Leader: Dr. Avron Spiro (avron.spiro@va.gov; aspiro3@bu.edu)
General Information
Country of Data Collection: USA
Years of Data Collection: 1963-present
Study Status: Ongoing
Total Number of Assessments Completed: 18
Approx. Retention Rate: <2% annually over time; 84% of sample is deceased by last wave, which leaves N = ~420 men still being assessed in 2020
Sample
Composition: Community sample (most are veterans). Some limited data on wives are available 2001-2010.
Sex
SES
Predominantly middle- and upper-class.
Race/Ethnicity
Personality Data
Construct
Personality
Personality
Personality Pathology
Big Five
Neuroticism, Extraversion
Optimism
Mastery
Well-being
Vocational Interests
Values
Social Desirability
Self-Transcendance
Perceived Pers. Change
Mindfulness
Scale
16PF
MMPI (-AX, -2)
Pers. Psychopathology-5 (PSY-5)
Goldberg’s Big Five adjectives
Eysenck Personality Inventory-Q
Life Orientation Test
Pearlin Mastery Scale
Ryff’s Psych Well-being Scale
Strong Interest Inventory
Allport-Vernon-Lindzey Study of Values
Hays et al., 1989
Adult Self-Transcendance Inventory
Various items
Mindfulness Questionnaire
Years
1965-67, 75-76
1986, 1991
1986, 1991
1990, 2001, 03-present
1975-76, 88, 91-present
1988, 91, 93-present
2001-present
1991, 2003, 2006
1965-67
1965-67
1994-2003
2001, 03, 06
2001, 03, 06
1992
Method
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
Self-Report
*Exams are conducted on a rolling basis (and not at fixed intervals, such as a “wave”). Thus, years of data collection are reported rather than timepoints. Since 1961, generally, men under age 52 were to report every 5 years and men >52 every 3 years. Starting 1984, all were to report every 3 years. Most personality measures have been obtained by mail, either in surveys sent at a given point in time, or in those sent to men to complete at home prior to reporting for their exam.
administrative records
biomedical data
affect / EMotion
cognitive functioning/IQ
happiness, life satisfaction, well-being
job/work
life events
mental health
Neighborhood
parenting
physical health
physiological measures
relationships
war experiences
Data Access
Project Website: https://www.maelstrom-research.org/mica/individual-study/va-nas
Codebook Available Online: Yes, https://www.maelstrom-research.org/mica/individual-study/va-nas
Data Available Online: No
Project Proposal Required to Use Data: Yes. Access to data is by request to the PI’s and is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Contact
Contact: Dr. Avron Spiro III (avron.spiro@va.gov; aspiro3@bu.edu)