Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD)

GENERAL
Year
1992
Country
Sweden
STUDY DETAILS
Waves

5 Waves: 1992-2014

W1: 1992
W2: 2002-2003
W3: 2004-2005
W4: 2010-2011
W5: 2014-2015

Sample size

Survey 1992: 537 participants
Survey 2002: 621 participants
Survey 2004: 1.180 partcipants
Survey 2011: 931 participants
Survey 2014: 1.297 participants

Sample population

69+

Sample residence

69+

Survey mode

Quantitative

Longitudinal or cross-section study

Longitudinal and cross-sectional

Data sources

Questionnaires, cognitive measures, physical measures, administrative databases (vital statistics databases)

The interviews were carried out in the participants’ homes or institutions where they lived and were based on a structured questionnaire. If necessary, a proxy (close relative or caretaker) provided an indirect interview of the participant. In 1992 the interviewers used paper questionnaires.

Information collected included individuals’ command over resources in terms of family and social relations, material living conditions (income and wealth), health, education, political life, leisure time activities, housing conditions, and in contrast with the Swedish Level of Living Surveys (LNU), functional abilities and ADLs were included as well. In addition to this, information about the respondent’s children, geographical proximity, generational transfers, conflicts and emotional closeness was also collected.

Cognitive function was also assessed using a condensed version of the Mini-Mental State Exam.

Main topics

Family and social relations, material living conditions (income and wealth), health, education, working conditions, political life, leisure-time activities, housing conditions, objective tests to measure physical and cognitive function.

Early- and mid-life factors on late-life health

Goals

The study’s aim is to describe and analyze the living conditions of older people in Sweden, including health, care and social services, financial situation, housing, occupational activities, family situation, leisure activities, and engagement in society in general.

Scientific domain

Medicine, Social Science

Age studies subcategories
Age Study (69+)
INSTITUTION
Institution
Contact

Carin Lennartsson
Associate Professor, PI of SWEOLD
Aging Research Center (ARC) Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS)
Karolinska Institutet
Tel: +46 8 690 58 53
carin.lennartsson@ki.se

LINKS / PUBLICATIONS
Links

sweold.se/

Publications

Lennartsson, C., Agahi, N., Hols-Salén, L., Kelfve, S., Kåreholt, I., Lundberg, O., Parker, M., & Thorslund, M. (2014). Data resource profile: the Swedish Panel Study of living conditions of the oldest old (SWEOLD). International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(3), 731-738.

Parker MG, Ahacic K, Thorslund M, Lundberg O. Socioeconomic status and health among elderly people in Sweden. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999;896:383-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb08148.x. PMID: 10681929.