| Study Title |
L25 Lifeways Study: Health, Lifestyle and Nutrition Baseline Questionnaire, 2001-2002 |
| Creator |
University College, Dublin (www.ucd.ie/phpps) |
| Data Owner |
University College, Dublin (www.ucd.ie/phpps) |
| Funder |
Health Research Board (www.hrb.ie) |
| Publisher |
UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science (www.ucd.ie/phpps) |
| Description |
Lifeways is a longitudinal cross-generation cohort study, designed to collect longitudinal life-course data in Ireland and investigate the effect of food and nutrition on health. The principal aim is to follow the growth and development of children from the ante-natal stage throughout childhood and to understand what factors affect this growth, including environmental factors, lifestyle and healthcare experience. The study investigates the interrelationships between socio-economic status, social relationships, family, lifestyle, nutrition and health outcomes. A number of the study participants have 3 generations of the same family involved, enabling patterns and links to be established. Family doctors, with the consent of participants, also provide data.
The Baseline Questionnaire recorded data on diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and socio-economic status. Lifeways mothers were also questioned on their intake of vitamins, minerals or other food supplements during pregnancy. |
| Key Variables |
Sex; Age in Years; Geog Other; Marital Status; Household; Family Status; Ed Attain Mother; Labour Force Status; Occupation; Income, Religion |
| Themes |
Health; Social/Emotional/Behavioural; Demographics; Relationships |
| Unit Of Observation |
Pregnant women attending for their booking visit at the Coombe Hospital, Dublin, and University College Hospital, Galway; their children; their spouse/partner; grandparents of children |
| End Date |
September, 2012 |
| Target Population |
Frequency of data collection: Baseline questionnaire was issued in 2001, with follow-up questionnaires issued in 2007 and 2011. GPs provided data in Phase 3 (2005) and Phase 5 (2011-2013). Target population: Pregnant women who attended ante-natal classes at the Coombe Hospital, Dublin, and University College Hospital, Galway.
Sample size: Target sample was 1,000 mothers.
Recruited: 1,094 babies resulted from these pregnancies. 1,043 fathers and 3,624 grandparents were also recruited. |
| Method |
Postal, self-completion paper questionnaire, with option available to have researcher administer the questionnaire in person or over the telephone if necessary. |
| Most Recent Data Collection |
September, 2012 |
| Most Recent Publication |
2012. See:
- Murrin, C., Kelly, G.E., Tremblay, R.T. and Kelleher, C.C. (2012) Body mass index and height over three generations: Evidence from the Lifeways cross-generational cohort study, BMC Public Health, Vol. 12, p. 81. Available at: www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/81
A full list of publications, key findings and research papers can be accessed at: www.ucd.ie/phpps/lifeways/ourresearch/ |
| Internationally Comparable Studies |
No. Internationally, the Lifeways study is unique since it is one of few such studies where cross-generational data (children, parents and grandparents) are collected. |
| Access Further Information |
UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science
(www.ucd.ie/phpps/lifeways/welcome/) |
| Notes |
Postal, self-completion paper questionnaire, with option available to have researcher administer the questionnaire in person or over the telephone if necessary. |