1. The UK Millennium Cohort Study The Long View: Longitudinal Studies in Scotland February 26 2004 Lisa Calderwood Centre for Longitudinal Studies Institute of Education, University of London

2. British Birth Cohort Studies • Previous UK/GB National Studies: 1946: MRC National Survey of Health & Development 1958: National Child Development Study 1970: 1970 British Birth Cohort Study • MCS: the first national birth cohort study for 30 years 2000-1 • 1958, 1970 & MCS based at IOE

3. Objectives of MCS • To chart the initial conditions of the social, economic and health advantages and disadvantages facing new children in the new century • To capture information for the future • To compare patterns of development with other cohorts • To collect information on previously neglected topics, such as father’s involvement, & child care …………./

4. …Objectives • To chart the experience of mothers and fathers • To emphasise intergenerational links • To investigate the wider social ecology of the family, including community and services, splicing in geo-coded data when available. • To provide evidence for the National Evaluation of Sure Start and of the Children’s Fund -in England.

5. MCS Sponsors • Economic & Social Research Council • ONS consortium of Government Departments: • ONS • DfES • DWP • DoH • Welsh Assembly • Scottish Executive • NI Executive • SureStart –National Evaluation in England

6. Government-funded enhancements • Boosted original sample size 15,000 to 20,000+ • Extending first interview of mother and father • Incorporation of linkage of heath records & neighbourhood data • Further analyses and reports • Supplementary surveys of fertility treatment & Health Visitors • Survey of older siblings at age 3

7. Design Features of MCS • Cohort born over 12 month period • Season of birth effects • Spread workload of professional interviewers • Sampling necessitated • Geographically clustered by electoral ward • Wards being disproportionately stratified • Better approach to issue of community & local services • Content multi-purpose & multidisciplinary but with greater emphasis on social rather than medical

8. MCS First Survey Fieldwork & Data • Birth dates • England & Wales: September 2000 to Aug 2001 • Scotland & N. Ireland:Dec 2000 to Jan 2002 (+ 6 weeks) • Fieldwork – child 9-10 months old • England & Wales: June 2001 to Aug 2002 • Scotland & N. Ireland:September 2001 to Jan 2003 • Data Archive Deposit: May 2003

9. Interview Self-completion Elements and content of the first survey: Mother (75 mins) Baby’s temperament & behaviour Relationship with partner Previous relationships Domestic tasks Previous pregnancies Mental health Attitudes to relationships, parenting, work, etc Ethnicity & language Baby’s father Lone parenthood Pregnancy, labour & delivery Baby’s health & development Childcare Grandparents, friends & social support Parental health Education & training Employment & earnings Housing, local community & services Time with & without the baby Other interests

10. Interview Self-Completion Elements and content of the first survey: Father (30 mins) Baby’s temperament & behaviour Relationship with partner Previous relationships Children living elsewhere Mental health Attitudes to relationships, parenting, work, etc Ethnicity & language Father’s involvement with baby Grandparents, friends & social support Parental health Education & training Employment & earnings Time with & without the baby Other interests

11. MCS1 sample size, by country

12. MCS1 response, by strata and country

13. MCS2: Design & Fieldwork • The second MCS survey is taking place around the time of the children’s third birthdays • The survey will follow all those 18553 families who took part in MCS1 • Fieldwork started in September 2003 in England & Wales and in December 2003 in Scotland & Northern Ireland • MCS2 includes Mums (60 mins), Dads (17mins), the cohort children themselves (30mins) and older siblings

14. MCS2: Elements of the survey • Cognitive assessments • British Ability Scales (II) • Bracken Basic Concept Scale – Revised (BBCS-R) • Measurement of Height & Weight • Sample of Saliva (not for DNA purposes) • Interviewer observation of home environment & neighbourhood • Older Siblings

15. Employment of MCS mothers by country and type of area

16. Parents Employment in Scotland

17. Mother’s Breast-feeding by country

18. Father’s Involvement in Scotland • 88% of Fathers in Scotland (85% UK) look after the cohort child at least weekly and 66% of Fathers in Scotland (57% UK) change a nappy at least once a day. • Longitudinal Evidence • A strong father figure is associated with academic success (Flouri et al 2003) • Girls whose fathers are involved in their upbringing are less likely to have mental health problems in later life (Flouri and Buchanan 2002)

19. Household structure characteristics Ethnic identity Partnerships and parenthood Wider family Pregnancy, delivery and labour Babies’ health and development Parenting and parents’ psycho-social adjustment Parents’ health Parental employment and education Child care Income and Benefits Housing and the area Citizenship MCS1: A User’s Guide to Initial Findings.

20. Analysis Possibilities • MCS1 now • MCS2 mid 2005 • Cross cohort analysis • Cross source e.g. census, • International comparisons • Canada, • Australia • USA • Young Lives: Ethiopia, India, Vietnam, Peru • Scandinavia

21. MCS: The Future of Data collection • Future surveys are planned for: • Age 5 2005-6 • Age 7 2007-8 etc……. • Possible future design elements • Obtain info on or from daycare provider at 3 • At 5 and 7 Repeat interviews with resident parents • Repeat cognitive and behavioural assessments with children • Collect information from Schools? • Collect information on child’s hospital episodes?

22. Useful Websites for Further Information http://www.cls.ioe.ac.uk/Cohort/MCS/mcsmain.htm Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) Main page Includes: Rationale, Surveys, MCS Launch, Data Archive, Documentation, Contact details http://www.cls.ioe.ac.uk/Cohort/MCS/Publications/mainpubs.htm Annual report, Conference Papers, Journal Articles http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=6186 Bedford Group (BG) on the Institute of Education (IoE) Website http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=6194&6194_0=8239 MCS on BG/IoE Website including the MCS Users Guide to Initial Findings (Descriptive Report)