German Ageing Survey, Deutscher Alterssurvey (DEAS): documents of instruments and variables 1996-2017

Abstract

The German Ageing Survey (DEAS) is a nationwide representative cross-sectional and longitudinal survey of the German population aged over 40. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). The comprehensive surveying of persons in middle and later adulthood provides micro data for social and behavioural scientific research and for the reporting on social developments.1 Participants are questioned in detail on their objective and subjective living situation. In addition, tests of cognitive capability and physical functioning are applied. The DEAS has a cohort-sequential longitudinal design, a broad thematic spectrum, national representativity with a comparatively large number of cases and a relatively long observation period, and is hence a unique German database for interdisciplinary research on the living conditions and life courses as well as the subjective perception and scheme of life of ageing and older individuals. Data thus provides a source of information for decision-makers, the general public and for scientific research. The first DEAS survey wave took place in 1996, further waves followed in 2002, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017. New cross-sectional samples are drawn every six years (next in 2020) and then followed up as panels. Therefore, the surveys in 2008 and 2014 include a cross-sectional sample as well as a panel sample of study participants who took part in the DEAS before; in 2011 and 2017, only panel participants were re-interviewed. For reasons of comparability, most variables from previous waves are adopted, some are slightly modified. This documentation of variables serves as an overview of all variables which have been collected in the DEAS, given in German and English. All variables are documented by assigning them to different thematic fields. This documentation provides a thorough overview over all collected variables and scales of the different waves.