The second generation of The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC-G2): a cohort profile

Abstract

Background: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children-Generation 2 (ALSPAC-G2) was set up to provide a unique multi-generational cohort. It builds on the existing ALSPAC resource, which recruited 14,541 pregnancies to women resident in the South West of England who were expected to deliver between 01/04/1991 and 31/12/1992. Those women and their partners (Generation 0; ALSPAC-G0) and their offspring (ALSPAC-G1) have been followed for the last 26 years. This profile describes recruitment and data collection on the next generation (ALSPAC-G2)—the grandchildren of ALSPAC-G0 and children of ALSPAC-G1. Recruitment: Recruitment began on the 6th of June 2012 and we present details of recruitment and participants up to 30th June 2018 (~6 years). We knew at the start of recruitment that some ALSPAC-G1 participants had already become parents and ALSPAC-G2 is an open cohort; we recruit at any age. We hope to continue recruiting until all ALSPAC-G1 participants have completed their families. Up to 30th June 2018 we recruited 810 ALSPAC-G2 participants from 548 families. Of these 810, 389 (48%) were recruited during their mother’s pregnancy, 287 (35%) before age 3 years, 104 (13%) between 3-6 years and 30 (4%) after 6 years. Over 70% of those invited to early pregnancy, late pregnancy, second week of life, 6-, 12- and 24-month assessments (whether for their recruitment, or a follow-up, visit) have attended, with attendance being over 60% for subsequent visits up to 7 years (to few are eligible for the 9- and 11-year assessments to analyse). Data collection: We collect a wide-range of social, lifestyle, clinical, anthropometric and biological data on all family members repeatedly. Biological samples include blood (including cord-blood), urine, meconium and faeces, and placental tissue. In subgroups detailed data collection, such as continuous glucose monitoring and videos of parent-child interactions, are being collected.

Traumatic childhood events of parents enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

“…This leaves 14,691 eligible participants remaining. ALSPAC is continuing to monitor these families and are recruiting the Children of the Children of the 90's 25 . The ALSPAC team continue to gather data concerning the parents and grandparents of the study children, enabling further intergenerational research.…”

The Value of Multiple‐Generation Cohorts for Studying Parenting and Child Development

“…Fortunately, such cohorts exist because ongoing longitudinal studies include offspring (G2), with regular assessments of both G1 parenting and G2 development at several points during G2 childhood and adolescence. Among studies of this type are the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (Poulton, Moffitt, & Silva, 2015), the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (Boyd et al, 2013;Lawlor et al, 2019), the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort (Spry, Olsson, et al, 2020), the Australian Temperament Project (Olsson et al, 2020), and the TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (Oldehinkel et al, 2015). Figure 1 depicts the developmental periods of G0, G1, and G2 that are covered in these cohorts; see Supporting Information for more information.…”

Locus of Control and Negative Cognitive Styles in Adolescence as Risk Factors for Depression Onset in Young Adulthood: Findings From a Prospective Birth Cohort Study

“…The variable indicating parental status was built including all ALSPAC participants who were known to have become parents or were expecting a child at the time of the assessment of the outcome (SMFQ at 23 years of age) (N = 790). This information was either obtained by including all participants who enrolled as parents of the second generation of ALSPAC (ALSPAC-G2) (Lawlor et al, 2019) or by including those ALSPAC participants who had responded affirmatively (i.e., they have a child) to at least one of the repeated questions about parenting (from age 16 to 24). The questions that have been used to identify parents are reported in the Supplementary Table 5.…”