Add Health is excited to announce that beginning in September 2024, we will release restricted-use data in SAS7BDAT format instead of SAS Transport XPT format. In addition, the structure for the reserve codes that explain missing values will be changed. The old version, which were of dynamic length based on the values in the variable, will be replaced with negative values of consistent length. Details of these new reserve codes will be included in all future user guides.
In collaboration with the UNC Chief Information Officer and the Research Computing Unit at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Add Health is making the UNC Secure Research Workspace (UNC SRW) available for restricted-use contract researchers to analyze Add Health data in UNC’s enterprise secure data enclave free of charge. (Please note that a processing and set-up fee to obtain an Add Health restricted-use contract still applies). This is a major upgrade to the way Add Health is disseminating restricted-use data and we think will be very helpful for users of restricted-use Add Health data all over the world. In a nutshell, this means we will phase out “pushing restricted-use data out” to the user community. Instead, contract users will use Add Health restricted-use data by logging in to the SRW at UNC. This should make using restricted-use Add Health data easier for the user community. Moreover, it will help keep Add Health data more secure in our efforts to maintain the strict confidentiality of our participants.
As new users apply for contracts and as current restricted-use contracts expire, we will help users begin using the UNC SRW. We will make this process as seamless as possible. Looking ahead, Wave VI restricted-use data will be fully disseminated through the UNC SRW when those data are released (ETA 2025).
** Please note that Add Health will continue to produce and disseminate public-use data through ICPSR at the University of Michigan. **
Accessing the SRW:
- To access the UNC SRW, contract holders will be given a UNC user account to remotely login to the UNC SRW.
- Add Health staff will assist you in getting your statistical code and documentation into the UNC SRW. Your intermediate data files can be recreated once you login to the UNC SRW.
- Similar to other restricted data use enclaves, an Add Health staff member will vet/export your output before it leaves the SRW. We will do so with rapid turnaround time, although this process will be limited to business hours (M-F, 8am-5pm).
More details
- Use of the UNC SRW is free
- The UNC SRW is comprised of Windows 10/11 desktops in a Virtual Desktop Environment (VDI). Each Virtual Machine VM will consist of 16GB RAM and 4 processors initially but can be increased if needed. Access will require the VMware Horizon View client (also free of charge) to be installed on your local computer. We will help you with this.
- Software (note: although the goal is to provide access to the most recent version available, it may take time for testing each new release prior to releasing the most recent version into production):
- Stata: Free (125 concurrent licenses)
- MPlus: Free (10 concurrent licenses)
- Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel): Free
- Please contact us if the UNC SRW platform will not meet your needs.
- Please see our related FAQs for even more details about the UNC SRW.
User Feedback:
Our goal is to make the use of Add Health data for contract researchers as straightforward as possible. Over the last few months, we have slowly begun moving researchers to the UNC SRW. As more researchers are added to the SRW, we will carefully monitor progress and problems in the effort to best serve the user community. Here is just a small sampling of what current non-UNC Add Health researchers who are using the UNC SRW are saying:
“… it has been wonderful to use — easy, intuitive, and reliable. I am so glad you helped us set up this option.”
“Everyone on the team has been very responsive! Add Health staff sent the output very quickly. Very communicative…There has been a level of collegiality that is unparalleled. Everyone on the UNC team has been great. Excited to be part of the SRW!”
Thank you for being an Add Health restricted-use data user. We will continue to put tremendous effort into collecting and disseminating great data for the scientific community. Please contact us at addhealth_contracts@unc.edu if you have questions or concerns regarding our transition to the UNC SRW.
A recent article published by The Guardian references a study conducted by Add Health Deputy Director, Dr. Allison Aiello, and fellow researchers exploring the impacts of experiencing bereavement early in life and its effects on accelerated biological aging.
This study analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, focusing on those who experienced the loss of a close family member before age 18 and between 19 to 43 years old. They found that nearly 40% of the 3,963 participants had experienced a significant loss, and these individuals exhibited biological markers of faster aging.
The study assessed biological aging by analyzing DNA for epigenetic changes, revealing that those who had suffered bereavement had older biological ages compared to their chronological age. This accelerated aging process may increase the risk of future health issues, including cognitive impairment, heart problems, and earlier mortality. The researchers suggest that providing effective counseling and social support could potentially reduce these aging effects, offering insights for public health approaches to support bereaved individuals. The study’s findings were published in JAMA Network Open and are part of ongoing research into the long-term health impacts of grief.
- Check in: Beginning at 8:00AM on June 17th, you can sign in at the registration desk to receive your name badge and conference materials. The registration desk is located in Loudermilk Hall outside of the Magnolia room.
- Location: The Users Conference is being held at the Rizzo Center, located at 150 DuBose Home Lane, Chapel Hill 27517. The conference will take place in the Magnolia room inside Loudermilk Hall. Loudermilk Hall is located directly to the left of the hotel.
- Parking: Self-parking is available to the right when you enter the property and is indicated with a sign that states Event Parking. You can access Loudermilk Hall by following the sidewalk nearest the handicap accessible parking spaces, as indicated on the property map below.
- Start & End Times: The conference will involve two days of presentations. On Monday June 17th, registration will open at 8:00 a.m., and welcoming remarks will begin at 9:00 a.m. On Tuesday, June 18th, the first session will begin at 8:30 a.m. The conference will conclude by 3:00 p.m. on June 18th. The conference agenda is available below.
- Internet: Wi-Fi will be available throughout the conference. The network is “rizzoroadrunner” and no password is required.
- Dining: Snacks will be available outside the Magnolia room for attendees throughout the day. Lunch will be served daily outside the Magnolia room and attendees may eat in the conference room, outdoors on the Rand terrace, or in the west lobby.
- Reception: Add Health will host a reception on Monday evening from 5:30PM to 7:00PM on the Terrace and Lobby of Loudermilk Hall. Join Add Health Investigators and Staff for heavy hors d’oeuvres, complimentary drink, and refreshments. A cash bar will also be available.
Contact addhealth_conference@unc.edu with any questions.
Conference Materials
The following data are now available to Add Health contract researchers.
Wave V Contextual Despair
This contextual data set focuses on the social, political, and resource environment of Add Health respondents at the tract, county, and state level that are relevant to the prevailing causes of death in midlife – namely alcohol-related diseases, drug overdoses and accidental poisonings, and suicide and self-inflicted harm. Most measures are specific to Wave V residential location, though several measures span multiple waves. Measures include the sociodemographic and segregation context, proximity to firearms distributors and alcohol outlets, opioid dispensing, and policies related to alcohol, drugs, and firearms. N=20,745, v=266s Current Add Health investigators can log in to the CPC Data Portal and use the “Request More Data” button to order these datasets.
For more information on the CPC Data Portal, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.
A preliminary agenda is now available for the 2024 Add Health Users Conference.
The 2024 Add Health Users Conference will be held on Monday, June 17th, and Tuesday, June 18th, at the Rizzo Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Registration is now closed.
For conference updates and additional details, please visit the conference website.
The following data are now available to Add Health contract researchers.
Wave V Baroreflex Sensitivity and Hemodynamic Recovery
This file contains constructed measures for baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate recovery, and systolic blood pressure recovery for the Wave V respondents. N=5,381
Wave V Measures of Inflammation and Immune Function
This file contains additional measures of inflammation and immune function based on venous blood collected via phlebotomy at the Wave V home exam and then assayed for several cytokines (IL-1β; IL-6; IL-8; IL-10; TNF-α) and anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG. N=5,381
Wave V Neurodegeneration
This file contains two measures of neurodegeneration based on venous blood collected via phlebotomy at the Wave V home exam and then assayed for neurofilament light (NfL) and tau. N=5,381
Current Add Health investigators can log in to the CPC Data Portal and use the “Request More Data” button to order these datasets.
For more information on the CPC Data Portal, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Add Health is excited to attend the PAA 2024 annual meeting from April 17 to 20, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. Add Health Director, Dr. Robert Hummer and other members of the team will present during the conference. Also, be sure to stop by our booth #408 to discover more about Add Health, speak with project staff, and learn about our valuable data resources.
View a list of PAA presentations using Add Health data here. Additional information can be found on the PAA Conference website. We can’t wait to see you there!
In recent decades, the pervasive issue of mass incarceration in the United States has cast a long shadow, affecting not only those imprisoned but also their families. However, little attention has been given to how parental incarceration impacts the hopes and ambitions of children. In response, a study by Baker (2023) used Add Health’s parental incarceration data from Wave I and Wave IV to analyze the effects of this adversity on children’s expectations and aspirations.
Baker’s study revealed a strong association between paternal incarceration and a notable decline in youth expectations and aspirations, shedding light on a critical pathway through which mass incarceration perpetuates intergenerational inequality. Despite controlling for variables, the research found that children whose fathers had been in prison reported feeling significantly worse about their future and the things they think they can achieve.
As paternal incarceration remains prevalent, particularly among marginalized communities, policymakers should look into targeted interventions that address the systemic challenges underlying the issue and provide support and resources for affected children to encourage positive aspirations and break the cycle of inequality.
Author(s)
Garrett Baker, PhD Candidate
Citation
Baker, Garrett (2023). Shattered Dreams: Paternal Incarceration, Youth Expectations, and the Intergenerational Transmission of Disadvantage. Sociological Science. vol. 10 (20). https://doi.org/10.15195/v10.a20
The abstract submission deadline for the 2024 Add Health Users Conference is fast approaching. While any papers using Add Health data including both substantive and methodological topics are welcome, we strongly encourage abstracts that:
- Use Wave V data
- Examine health disparities and/or focus on racial/ethnic minoritized populations
- Study genetic and environmental influences on health and behavior
- Use biomarker data
- Use longitudinal social, behavioral, and environmental data
- Use cognitive data
- Study life course trajectories of health, family, education, and labor force participation
- Use data from the Add Health Parent Study
Abstracts must be submitted by Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Please use the abstract submission form on the Users Conference Website here. For more information, view the full Call for Papers.
Conference registration is free and open until May 31, 2024. Click here to register.
