The main objective of the Harvard Study of Adult Development is to understand successful aging. The project will continue a life course study of two socially contrasting cohorts totaling 724 men who have been prospectively followed by interdisciplinary study for 60 years (attrition has been held to 0.2 percent/year): A. The COLLEGE sample includes 268 men selected as sophomores in 1939-1942 for mental and physical health and high achievement. At an average of 81, these men are demonstrating marked longevity. B. The CORE CITY sample includes 456 men selected in 1940-44, at age 11-15, by the Gluecks as nondelinquent controls for their study of delinquency. They were from inner-city schools in high-crime neighborhoods. MAJOR OBJECTIVES over the period 2003-2008 will be: 1. To identify the developmental factors that predict adaptive aging in the 8th and 9th decades of life. 2. To identify predictors of marital functioning in late life, as well as links between marriage and healthy aging among the elderly. METHODOLOGY over the 5-year period, 2003-2008: The Study will continue to exploit the power of a multivariate, multimethod, prospective design. Major variables are assessed using questionnaire, physical examination, interview, and new observational and daily diary methods. 1. Contact will continue to be maintained with the entire sample by means of biennial questionnaires, and new daily telephone diaries will be used to assess emotional and physical well being, social adjustment, and instrumental activities of daily living over 8 consecutive days. 2. Physical examinations and telephone cognitive status examinations are obtained every five years. 3. For the estimated 100 COLLEGE and 100 CORE CITY men who are currently married and likely to give informed consent, marital quality and functioning will be assessed using a videotaped marital discussion between husbands and wives, along with individual interviews with each partner about the marriage. Parallel data (including daily diary data) will be collected on husbands and wives.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH042248-18
Application #
6861855
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-4 (01))
Program Officer
Niederehe, George T
Project Start
1987-04-01
Project End
2008-01-31
Budget Start
2005-02-28
Budget End
2006-01-31
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$631,164
Indirect Cost
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
030811269
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Waldinger, Robert J; Schulz, Marc S (2016) The Long Reach of Nurturing Family Environments: Links With Midlife Emotion-Regulatory Styles and Late-Life Security in Intimate Relationships. Psychol Sci 27:1443-1450
Waldinger, Robert J; Cohen, Shiri; Schulz, Marc S et al. (2015) Security of attachment to spouses in late life: Concurrent and prospective links with cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Clin Psychol Sci 3:516-529
Vaillant, George E; Okereke, Olivia I; Mukamal, Kenneth et al. (2014) Antecedents of intact cognition and dementia at age 90 years: a prospective study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 29:1278-85
McLaughlin, Katie A; Kubzansky, Laura D; Dunn, Erin C et al. (2010) Childhood social environment, emotional reactivity to stress, and mood and anxiety disorders across the life course. Depress Anxiety 27:1087-94
Waldinger, Robert J; Schulz, Marc S (2010) What's love got to do with it? Social functioning, perceived health, and daily happiness in married octogenarians. Psychol Aging 25:422-31
Koenig, Laura B; Vaillant, George E (2009) A prospective study of church attendance and health over the lifespan. Health Psychol 28:117-24
Frosch, Zachary A K; Dierker, Lisa C; Rose, Jennifer S et al. (2009) Smoking trajectories, health, and mortality across the adult lifespan. Addict Behav 34:701-4
Vaillant, George; Templeton, Janice; Ardelt, Monika et al. (2008) The natural history of male mental health: health and religious involvement. Soc Sci Med 66:221-31
Waldinger, Robert J; Schulz, Marc S (2006) Linking hearts and minds in couple interactions: intentions, attributions, and overriding sentiments. J Fam Psychol 20:494-504
Vaillant, George E; DiRago, Ana C; Mukamal, Ken (2006) Natural history of male psychological health, XV: retirement satisfaction. Am J Psychiatry 163:682-8

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