German Ageing Survey

Summary

With the German Ageing Survey, individual changes in intergenerational relationships over time (a period of 15 years), as well as differences in intergenerational relationships between cohorts (social change) can be analysed. Moreover, intergenerational relationships can be analysed in the context of psychological, health, economic and sociological aspects. Due to the composition of the sample, the focus of intergenerational relationships is on relationships in old age, which means that early parent-child-relationships are not captured. The grandparents’ perspective in particular is not part of many studies on intergenerational relationships. However, certain aspects of intergenerational relationships, such as support or conflicts, are not captured or at least not (yet) in detail. Moreover, intergenerational relationships are not captured in a dyadic perspective (no multi-actor design). What is more, the first wave of the DEAS was limited to participants with German citizenship, but since 2002, the inclusion criteria is ability to speak and understand German. Despite the effort to include foreigners and people with migration background, the DEAS still is not representative of this sub-population. In addition, it should be pointed out that there is good documentation (survey instruments, methodological reports, codebooks, correspondence of variables) provided on the website of the Research Data Centre (https://www.dza.de/en/fdz/research-data-centre-of-the-german-ageing-survey-fdz-deas/deas-documentation.html).

Type of data

Data Source
Survey

Type of Study
Survey same
Crosssection regular
Other: Cohort-sequential design

Data gathering method
Face-to-face
Self administered questionnaire

Access to data

Conditions of access
Available for scientific, non-profit use

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)
anonymised microdata

Formats available
SPSS, STATA

Coverage

Coverage Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes
Wave 1: Data collected in 1996 (DOI 10.5156/DEAS.1996.M.001) with a sample size of 4, 838 individuals. Wave 2: Data collected in 2002 (DOI 10.5156/DEAS.2002.M.001) with a base sample of 3,084 individuals, a migrant sample of 586 individuals, and a panel sample of 1,524 individuals. Wave 3: Data collected in 2008 (DOI 10.5156/DEAS.2008.M.001) with a base sample of 6,205 individuals and a panel sample of 1,995 individuals. Wave 4: Data collected in 2011 with a panel sample of 4, 855 individuals. Wave 5: Data will be collected in 2014. A new base sample will be drawn and the panel sample will be reassessed.

First year of collection
1996

Stratification if applicable
age (40-54, 55-69, 70-85 years), sex, region (East/West)

Base used for sampling

Geographical coverage and breakdowns
national, NUTS3-level (Kreise)

Age range
baseline samples: 40-85 years; Panel sample: 40-90 years

Statistical representativeness
Other, please specify

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics
The dataset allows for an analysis of intergenerational relationships in the context of psychological, economic and sociological variables. Aspects captured within the domain of intergenerational relationships are • relatives who can be asked for advice and turned to when in need for comfort and cheering up • instrumental support and financial transfers (given and received) • housework done for relatives • worries, quarrels and joy/happiness related to relatives • paternalism • spatial distance, frequency of contacts, emotional closeness (parents, children, grandchildren) • importance of the grandparent-role and childcare provided by grandparents • existence and number of great-grandchildren • evaluation of family relations

Linkage

Standardisation
Most instruments are standardised questions and scales (e.g. ISCO-88).

Possibility of linkage among databases
Not possible.

Data quality

Entry errors if applicable
Raw data is cleaned by project organisers and checked for inconsistencies. Data is further checked by the Research Data Centre, then the scientific use file (SUF) is created.

Breaks
Research group changed between first and second wave (1996: Freie Universität Berlin, since 2002: German Centre of Gerontology). In 1996, interviews were conducted via PAPI, since 2002, however, they have been conducted via CAPI.

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection
Due to a change of the research group, the documentation for 1996 is incomplete.

Governance

Contact information

Research Data Centre of the German Ageing Survey, German Centre of Gerontology (DZA Berlin)
Manfred-von-Richthofen-Straße 2
12101 Berlin Germany Phone: +49 (0)30 - 260740-0
Email: fdz(at)dza.de
Url: http://www.dza.de/en/fdz/research-data-centre-of-the-german-ageing-survey-fdz-deas/access-to-deas-data.html

Timeliness, transparency
The scientific use file is available about 2 years after data collection.