Women's Health - Longitudinal Study

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health is a landmark 20-year study to identify trends in women’s health. The study is now past its halfway point and continues to provide valuable information on women across three generations, as a guide to future policy.

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The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

The Study is undertaken by the University of Newcastle and the University of Queensland.

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH), which began in 1995, follows three cohorts of women (young, middle and older) across key stages in their lives. It has the following key features:

It collects information on social, behavioural and economic determinants of health, health outcomes and use of health and related services, as well as lifestyle choices around family and workforce participation.
It involves around 40,000 women selected to be representative of women nationally, with over-sampling in rural and remote areas.
Around 12,000 women in each of the three age cohorts (currently aged 29-34 years, 56-61 years and 81-86 years) are surveyed every three years. By the end of 2006, each cohort were surveyed four times.
The data is linked with Medicare Australia data.

Aims of the ALSWH

The ALSWH provides a data resource that can be drawn on by Australian governments, researchers, service providers, and communities. The Study is designed to enhance understanding of the many factors that enhance or inhibit good health in women. It addresses a range of research questions, including:

The impact of changes in work, nutrition, physical activity, and social circumstances on health outcomes such as obesity, chronic conditions, musculo-skeletal disorders and mental health;
The relationship between women’s health and nutrition and physical activity patterns over changing life-stages and circumstances, including workforce effects; and
The relationship between women’s health and various forms of work including paid work, unpaid work, volunteering, caring for older people and caring for children.

The Study data has implications for policy and practice and can be used to identify opportunities for prevention and early intervention strategies. The findings will inform Australian governments and communities regarding how programs and services can achieve positive outcomes for women in Australia.
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Who is involved in the Study?

The ALSWH is funded through the Department of Health and Ageing. The Study is being conducted as a collaboration between the University of Newcastle and the University of Queensland.

The Project Director is Professor Annette Dobson from the University of Queensland, and the Project Co-Director is Professor Julie Byles, University of Newcastle.

The ALSWH Steering Committee is responsible for the overall direction of activities and resources. The Steering Committee includes:

Professor Annette Dobson (Chair), University of Queensland;
Professor Julie Byles, University of Newcastle;
Professor Wendy Brown, University of Queensland;
Emeritus Professor Lois Bryson, University of Newcastle;
Professor Christina Lee, University of Queensland;
Dr Deborah Loxton, University of Newcastle;
Dr Penny Warner-Smith, University of Newcastle;
Dr Anne Young, University of Newcastle;
Dr Anne Young, University of Newcastle;
Dr Jayne Lucke, University of Queensland; and
Dr Leigh Tooth, University of Queensland.

The Study is also supported by an Advisory Committee, chaired by Professor Kerin O’Dea. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to enhance linkages between the Study and key stakeholders across government.
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Reports

ALSWH reports can be found at: http://www.alswh.org.au including:

Women's Weight: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (2007); and
Trends in women's health: Results from the ALSWH – priority conditions, risk factors and health behaviours (2006)

Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health information can be accessed through:

the ALSWH website: http://www.alswh.org.au
the ALSWH Data Book for each survey, available on the ALSWH website;
the ALSWH data for Surveys 1, 2 and 3 of the Younger, Mid-age and Older age groups which is archived at the Australian Social Sciences Data Archive at the Australian National University;
published ALSWH literature (a list of publications is provided on the ALSWH website); and
independently funding analysis of ALSWH data.