BCS70 Age 34 Sweep

Main dataset available via the UK Data Service [SN 5585]. Visit the UK Data Service website to access the data.

The Age 34 Sweep involved a 50-minute interview covering: relationships, births and pregnancies, lone parenthood, children, family life, housing, employment, income, qualifications and training, computer use, basic skills, physical and mental health, diet and exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking, height and weight, social participation, voting, attitudes, experience of crime, rating of local services and satisfaction with life.

Basic skills assessments measuring literacy and numeracy were administered, and a series of reading and writing exercises identified dyslexia symptoms.

For parents there were a number of additional elements:

Parent and Child Interview: an extension of the interview asking about each child’s health, separation from parents, pre-school care, education and aspirations for their future.

Parent paper self-completion questionnaires: age appropriate questionnaires about each child covering parenting, physical and cognitive development, parent/child relationship, behaviour, school absence and schoolwork.

Child assessments: Naming Vocabulary, Early Number Concepts and Copying Designs for those aged 3 to 5. Word Reading, Spelling and Number Skills for those aged 6 to 16.

Child self-completion questionnaire: Children aged 10 to 16 completed paper questionnaires about leisure activities, relationships with their parents, attitudes to school and aspirations for the future, self-esteem, smoking, drinking, drug use and experience of crime.