Our briefings and impact library includes summaries of our research findings as well as reports highlighting the impact of our cohort studies.
Showing 151 results.
Briefing papers
Obesity prevalence and its inequality from childhood to adolescence – Initial findings from the Millennium Cohort Study Age 17 Survey
This report focuses on excess weight at age 17 in the Millennium Cohort Study, presenting prevalence of obesity, overweight, normal weight and underweight. Examining also previous measures collected from the cohort since age 3, it highlights stark inequalities by family socioeconomic circumstances. It underlines the strong persistence of excess weight throughout childhood and adolescence, with one third of a whole generation either overweight or obese as they enter their prime adult years.
Briefing papers
Obesity prevalence and its inequality from childhood to adolescence – Appendix
This is the appendix to Obesity prevalence and its inequality from childhood to adolescence – Initial findings from the Millennium Cohort Study Age 17 Survey (above).
Briefing papers
Prevalence of COVID-19, symptoms and testing in the UK – Initial findings from COVID-19 survey
The prevalence of COVID-19 in the community following the onset of the UK epidemic is unknown, and there are likely to be many predisposing factors which affect exposure to, or severity of, the disease. Clarity on these issues will help to inform public health strategies directed at virus suppression or elimination, and/or risk stratification measures tailored for different members of society. Here, we provide self-reported cohort-specific estimates of COVID-19 prevalence, symptoms and testing, along with estimates stratified by a range of traits. These estimates benefit from weighting for non-response using information from past data collections.
Briefing papers
Mental ill health in the UK at age 17 – Prevalence of and inequalities in psychological distress, self-harm and attempted suicide
This report focuses on mental ill-health at age 17, using data collected from participants in the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) in 2018-19. It presents prevalence of psychological distress, self-harm and attempted suicide. It describes important mental health inequalities across the following key socio-demographic characteristics: sex, ethnicity, sexuality and socioeconomic position. Combined with data collected from a subset of participants during the COVID-19 national lockdown in May 2020, when they were aged 19, the report also presents evidence on changes in psychological distress from ages 17 to 19.
Briefing papers
In their own words: five generations of Britons describe their experiences of the coronavirus pandemic – initial findings from COVID-19 survey
Our survey’s open-ended question gave respondents the opportunity to describe their experience of the pandemic in their own words. We received just under 11,000 open text responses across the five generations of our study, and these responses provide an important complement to the more structured survey data by providing direct reports of study members’ lived experiences of the coronavirus outbreak; these responses can thus be seen as a ‘time capsule’ of those experiences.
Briefing papers
Household composition, couples’ relationship quality, and social support during lockdown – initial findings from COVID-19 survey
This exploratory study provides descriptive evidence on household composition, couples’ relationship quality, and social support during the May 2020 national lockdown in the UK. Specifically, it examines changes in living arrangements, conflicts with people, and relationship satisfaction and conflict among couples. It also considers changes in social connections, emotional support, and practical help among participants.
Briefing papers
Trust in government and others during the COVID-19 pandemic – initial findings from COVID-19 survey
This study focuses on trust in government, trust in others and compliance with the Government’s social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Briefing papers
Mental health during lockdown: evidence from four generations – initial findings from COVID-19 survey
This briefing paper reports on the mental health of four different generations of people in Britain in May 2020, amid the national lockdown.
Podcasts
Podcast series: 50 Years of Life in Britain – Episode 6
Our last episode of the series examines how BCS70 and our study members have been faring during the pandemic and looks to the future of longitudinal research. We find out more about the COVID-19 survey, sent to over 50,000 participants in five of Britain’s cohort studies, including BCS70, and we speak to study participants about their experiences of lockdown. We also find out more about the benefits of launching a new cohort study in the coming years.
Briefing papers
Parental involvement in home schooling and developmental play during lockdown – initial findings from COVID-19 survey
This briefing, based on the COVID-19 Survey in Five National Longitudinal Studies, looks at the time parents spent on home schooling and doing other interactive activities with their children during the nationwide lockdown, in May 2020. We examine differences between parental involvement based on gender, socioeconomic background, and other characteristics and circumstances.
