New study indicates poor health — not aging itself — decreases older Americans’ likelihood of voting

University of Wisconsin–Madison sociology professor Michal Engelman led the study, published Oct. 15 in the Journals of Gerontology: Series B, along with sociology graduate student Won-tak Joo, sociology Professor Jason Fletcher and political science Professor Barry Burden.

The study uses data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which Engelman directs. The WLS has followed more than 10,000 Wisconsin high school graduates since 1957, surveying them about once a decade. In addition to the original participants, the survey has interviewed their siblings and spouses and includes detailed data on wealth, physical and mental health, and a range of social activities.

Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS)

The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) is very pleased to announce that a new round of interviews with Graduates and their selected Sibling will begin in July 2019 and continue until approximately 2028. As in past years, the University of Wisconsin Survey Center (UWSC) will be contacting participants for interviews.

Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Microbiome Pilot

UWSC conducted a series of focus groups, then launched a pilot effort to collect human microbiome samples, drinking water samples and tests, and a self-administered questionnaire from a subset of Graduate and Sibling participants and their spouses or partners for the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS).

Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS)

The WLS is a unique, large-scale longitudinal study of adults and their families that covers more than half a century of life. It is a valuable resource for research on aging, life course, inter-generational transfers, relationships, family functioning, long term effects of education and cognitive ability, occupational careers, physical and mental well-being, and morbidity and mortality.