Life in your early 50s

It’s been a challenging 12 months for most of us. We’ve had to put our lives on hold and make sacrifices for the greater good. 2020 was a momentous year for you and the 1970 British Cohort Study as you reached your half century. We were really excited about the celebrations we had planned for you, and we were looking forward to the Age 50 Survey.  

We’re a year late, but from this summer, we hope to start catching up with you all to find out how your generation is faring in your early 50s. The survey will take place over at least 12 months, and at first we’ll be asking study members to take part via a video call. Depending on government COVID-19 guidelines, we hope we can visit some of you in your homes at a later date. We’ll be in touch soon with further information.  

The survey will consist of an interview, a paper self-completion questionnaire, and an online dietary questionnaire. In the interview, we will ask you about some familiar topics, including your relationships with friends and family, your employment and income, and your physical and mental health. We’ll also ask you about how your life continues to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To see how your experiences and circumstances at this important stage in your lives might differ from previous generations, we’ll be asking you questions that participants in earlier studies have answered during their early 50s. 

We’re really looking forward to catching up with you all again, so we can find out more about this new stage in your lives. The information you continue to provide is invaluable, and will help to improve your lives and those of future generations to come.