Longitudinal Study Essay

Words: 597
Pages: 3

Researchers broke their study into 2 phases. Phase 1 consisted using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to compare health deterioration and alcohol consumption. By comparing these factors researchers were able to observe how drinking habits develop over time. Participants were asked to answer questions regarding doctor-diagnosed and self-rated health conditions. These questions were asked as “yes, no, or do not know” and on a five-point scale. Based off of participants answers they were placed into groups. There were 18 different groups, each dedicated to different long-term conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Self-reports surveys were used to assess participants alcohol consumptions. Self-reports included questions about the frequency of drinking. For example, an answer would be 1-2 days/week. Chi-squared tests were then used to compare health deterioration and alcohol consumption’s association. …show more content…
All participants were born before March 1st, 1952. Participants were recruited from Sheffield English. Women were more likely to abstain then men. Participants 70 and over were also more likely to abstain. The baseline results showed adults drinking 1 or 2 days every week. Alcohol consumptions between waves concluded that many participants had the same drinking frequency. Health deterioration varied between waves 2 and 3, and waves 3 and 4. Waves 2-3 reported 2081 participants with life time conditions. While 867 participants reported a decline self-rated health. Another 288 had new diagnosis. However, during the waves 3 and 4 we saw a decline in these numbers. Life time conditions were reported by 1632 participants. While only 647 saw a decline in their self-rated health, and new diagnosis were reported by 259 participants. The overall results concluded there was no significant relationship between health deterioration and alcohol