Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) is a longitudinal research project that aims to examine the physical, psychological, and social factors that contribute to health and well-being in midlife and beyond. This study is conducted by a multidisciplinary team led by University of Wisconsin-Madison and is funded by various sources including NIA, NSF, NIMH, and multiple academic institutions. MIDUS has been conducted in three stages: MIDUS I, MIDUS II, AND MIDUS III.
MIDUS I was conducted between 1995 and 1996 and involved data collection from over 7,000 adults aged 25 to 74. This original data collection focused on physical health, mental health, social relationship, and life experiences.
MIDUS II was conducted between 2004 and 2006 and collected data from more than 4900 of the MIDUS I participants. This second phase included additional measures for mental and physical health and also new information on cognitive function, genetics, and biomarkers.
MIDUS III was conducted between 2013 and 2014 and collected data of more than 4500 participants from MIDUS I. This latest phase focused on aging and included information on physical and cognitive function, health care utilization, and social support.
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