So much of paediatrics, and medicine in general, is focussed on small experimental or observational studies. This series of posts takes the wider view; we’re talking here about some of the biggest and longest running studies that help us frame, measure and understand childhood through time and across the world.
The original emphasis for the study was to focus on vulnerability around birth and shortly thereafter, and “was partly motivated by the increased sophistication of birth technologies during the 1960s which had resulted in more babies surviving than ever before.” Poulton 2015 These vulnerabilities and life course events have enabled the researchers to understand some of the long term effects of factors in childhood. The study has spawned a number of multigenerational studies involving the children of study members.Who & What is being studied?
The study is widely known for not only its excellent, broad and relevant data, but also for the inordinately high retention rate of participants, most recently 95% of living participants at the 38 year-old review. The study coordinators (and in my personal experience, participants) are intensely proud of this retention rate and have a strong sense of loyalty within the study. Methods used to reduce barriers to forgoing participation includes simple measures like providing a creche on assessment days, to flying members back to Dunedin from around the world for review or sending interviewers to meet with incarcerated participants. Additionally, the assessments are designed to be engaging and to combat fatigue and boredom at each of the assessment points.How good is this dataset?
That self-control in childhood is more important than socioeconomic status (SES) or IQ in predicting adults’ physical health, wealth, life satisfaction, addiction, crime, and parenting of the next generation. This study has been referenced in popular / mainstream media repeatedly.What meaning can be drawn from the results (so far)?
Where next?
How is this study funded?
Are there similar studies?
There are a number of similar studies either completed or in progress around the world, including the Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, Germany, Victoria, Western Australia and Denmark, including . The Australian Institute of Family Studies lists more than 20 such studies, with some study populations into the tens of thousands! Check out the full list here.
For more on the Dunedin Study, check out their site at https://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/
References:
