Our Research

The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study

The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (Dunedin Study) is an ongoing, longitudinal study of the health, development and well-being of a general sample of New Zealanders. They were studied at birth (1972-73), followed up and assessed at the age of three when the longitudinal study was established. Since then they have been assessed every two years until the age of 15, then at ages 18 (1990-91), 21 (1993-94), 26 (1998-99), 32 (2003-2005), and 38 (2010-2012). The Study members have recently been assessed at age 45 (2017-2019) and it is hoped to continue further assessments in the future.

Brain Imaging Study (MRI)

This study aims to gather information that will help scientists understand how parts of the brain influence people’s reaction to different experiences in their daily life. At the recently completed Phase 45 assessments, 93% of the 94% who participated also completed brain scans. These data acquired on an already extremely well characterised general population sample - from birth to midlife - represents a unique resource in the world. Thank you again to our Study members. Click here for more information on the new Brain Imaging Study.

Sub-Studies of the Dunedin Study  

The Family Health History Study (2003-2006)
The Family Health History Study began in 2003 and finished in January 2006, with more than 1900 interviews completed and over 90% of Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study members’ parents (and some aunts and uncles) being interviewed. The purpose of this study was to find out about the health of the families of the Dunedin Study members.

The Parenting Study
This study focuses on members of the Dunedin Study and their first-born 3-year-old children. The aim is to identify the social and family determinants of parenting style, and to study continuities and discontinuities in parenting from the parenting experienced by the Study members themselves.

The Next Generation Study 
The purpose of the Next Generation Study is to look at the lifestyles, behaviours, attitudes and health of today's teenagers, and see how they have changed from when our original Dunedin Study Members were 15 (in 1987-88).