Health and Retirement Study

Health and Retirement Study
Name	Health and Retirement Study
Start date	1992
End date	Ongoing
Location	United States
Institutions	University of Michigan, National Institute on Aging
Researchers	Robert J. Willis, Richard V. Burkhauser

Health and Retirement Study. The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is a longitudinal panel study that surveys a representative sample of approximately 20,000 Americans over the age of 50 every two years, conducted by the University of Michigan and sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration. The study is designed to provide data for researchers at Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to better understand the complex relationships between health, retirement, and aging in the United States, with insights from David Cutler and Angus Deaton. The HRS has been influential in shaping policy decisions related to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, with input from Kathleen Sebelius and Tom Coburn.

Introduction

The Health and Retirement Study is a critical resource for demographers at Princeton University and economists at University of Chicago to study the aging population in the United States, with contributions from Robert Fogel and Gary Becker. The study's findings have been used to inform policy decisions related to health care and retirement security, with guidance from Henry Waxman and Nancy Pelosi. The HRS has also been used to study the effects of major life events, such as marriage and divorce, on health and well-being, with insights from Betty Friedan and Daniel Kahneman. Additionally, the study has explored the relationships between cognitive function and health outcomes, with research from Harvard Medical School and National Institutes of Health.

Methodology

The Health and Retirement Study uses a combination of in-person interviews and telephone surveys to collect data from its participants, with methodology developed by National Opinion Research Center and Gallup (company). The study's sample is designed to be representative of the United States population aged 50 and older, with input from United States Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. The HRS collects data on a wide range of topics, including health status, health care utilization, retirement plans, and financial well-being, with analysis from Brookings Institution and Urban Institute. The study also collects biological samples, such as blood and saliva, to study the relationships between biological markers and health outcomes, with research from Johns Hopkins University and University of California, Los Angeles.

Data Collection

The Health and Retirement Study collects data through a combination of in-person interviews, telephone surveys, and mail surveys, with support from Westat and RTI International. The study's data collection process is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the needs of its participants, with guidance from American Association for Public Opinion Research and National Academy of Sciences. The HRS also uses administrative data from Social Security Administration and Medicare to supplement its survey data, with analysis from Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office. The study's data are made available to researchers through the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging, with access provided by Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research.

Key Findings

The Health and Retirement Study has produced a wide range of research findings on topics related to health, retirement, and aging, with contributions from David Blau and Joseph Newhouse. The study has found that cognitive decline is a major predictor of health outcomes in older adults, with research from Alzheimer's Association and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The HRS has also found that retirement security is a major concern for many Americans, with analysis from Employee Benefit Research Institute and Pension Rights Center. Additionally, the study has explored the relationships between social isolation and health outcomes, with insights from AARP and National Council on Aging.

Applications and Impact

The Health and Retirement Study has had a significant impact on policy decisions related to health care and retirement security, with guidance from Kaiser Family Foundation and Commonwealth Fund. The study's findings have been used to inform legislation related to Social Security and Medicare, with input from United States Senate Committee on Finance and United States House Committee on Ways and Means. The HRS has also been used to evaluate the effectiveness of health care programs and retirement policies, with analysis from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Social Security Administration. Additionally, the study has been used to study the effects of major policy changes, such as the Affordable Care Act, on health outcomes and retirement security, with research from RAND Corporation and Urban Institute.

History and Development

The Health and Retirement Study was first launched in 1992 by the University of Michigan and the National Institute on Aging, with support from National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. The study was designed to provide data for researchers to study the complex relationships between health, retirement, and aging in the United States, with input from Robert Ball and Wilbur Cohen. The HRS has undergone several major updates and expansions since its launch, including the addition of new cohorts and the collection of biological samples, with guidance from National Academy of Medicine and Institute of Medicine. Today, the study is considered one of the premier longitudinal studies of aging in the United States, with contributions from Joshua Goldstein and Ronald Lee.

Category:Longitudinal studies