Description
The Dunedin Study Description - A Brief History
The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study Members are the 1037 babies born in Dunedin, New Zealand between 1 April 1972 and 31 March 1973 at the Queen Mary Maternity Hospital.
Of those 1037 babies, 535 were boys, 502 were girls, 1013 singletons and 24 twins. 1014 of the original cohort are still alive today.
The babies were first followed up at the age of 3, and then at 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 26 and 32. Future assessments are scheduled for age 38 (2010-2012), 44 and on into the future as Study Members have their own families, age, and retire.
During an "assessment phase", our Study Members come back to the Dunedin research unit for a one-day assessment from wherever in the world they are living - an impressive exercise considering more than 50 of them now live in the UK alone! Once in Dunedin, almost all aspects of their physical and mental health are examined - this includes cardiovascular, dental, respiratory, sexual and mental health, psychosocial well-being, and detailed interviews about relationships, behaviour and family.
Sub-studies of the Dunedin Study include the Family Health History Study (2003-2006) which involved the parents of the Study Members, and two on-going studies - the Parenting Study (of Study Members who are parenting 3-year-old pre-schoolers) and the Next Generation Study (of the 15-year-old teenagers whom Study Members are parenting). These studies will provide unprecedented and ground-breaking information covering three generations within the same families.
Over 1100 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, monographs and other reports, have been generated by the Dunedin Study since its inception. Findings from the Dunedin Study have (and will continue to) influence family, child and public health policies overseas and in New Zealand.