Longitudinal Studies in Social Gerontology

2018 ◽

Vol 680 (1) ◽

pp. 193-212 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Douglas A. Wolf

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Data ◽

Longitudinal Studies ◽

Panel Study ◽

Income Dynamics ◽

Methodological Issues ◽

Social Gerontology ◽

Routinely Collected Data ◽

Family Based ◽

Data Elements

The Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) has, over its 50-year history, proven to be a useful source of data for research on virtually all the major topics in the area of social gerontology. This usefulness reflects three of the leading features of the PSID: its longitudinality; its content; and its tracking rules, which permit users to develop family-based and generationally linked measures. This article summarizes key areas of survey content, including both routinely collected data and several one-time or occasional supplements to the routine items. The article also illustrates how these data elements have been used, providing examples of published papers in several areas of social gerontology. Finally, the article points out some methodological issues associated with the PSID design; these methodological issues arise, in varying degrees, in longitudinal studies other than the PSID, and should be acknowledged by both the producers and consumers of longitudinal-data research.

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FIT – Do Something Different

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024/1421-0185/a000035 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 25-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Ben (C) Fletcher ◽

Jill Hanson ◽

Nadine Page ◽

Karen Pine

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Longitudinal Studies ◽

Behavioral Intervention ◽

Behavioral Flexibility ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Life Skill ◽

Behavioral Repertoire ◽

Additional Weight

Two 3-month longitudinal studies examined weight loss following a 1-month behavioral intervention (FIT-DSD) focusing on increasing participants’ behavioral flexibility and breaking daily habits. The goal was to break the distal habits hypothesized as playing a role in unhealthy dietary and activity behaviors. The FIT-DSD intervention required participants to do something different each day and to engage in novel weekly activities to expand their behavioral repertoire. These activities were not food- or exercise-related. In Study 1, the FIT-DSD program was compared with a control condition where participants engaged in daily tasks not expected to influence behavioral flexibility. Study 2 used an active or quasicontrol group in which half the participants were also on food diets. Measures in both studies were taken pre-, post-, and post-postintervention. In Study 1, FIT-DSD participants showed greater weight loss that continued post-postintervention. In Study 2, all participants on the FIT-DSD program lost weight, weight loss continued post-postintervention, and participants who were also dieting lost no additional weight. A dose relationship was observed between increases in behavioral flexibility scores and weight loss, and this relationship was mediated by calorie intake. Corresponding reductions in BMI were also present. Increasing behavioral flexibility may be an effective approach for tackling obesity and also provides affective and potential life-skill benefits.

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