The health of older adults is influenced by many factors. One of the least understood is the role that social support and personal relationships may play in healthy aging. The National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) is the first population-based study of health and social factors on a national scale, aiming to understand the well-being of older, community-dwelling Americans by examining the interactions among physical health, illness, medication use, cognitive function, emotional health, sensory function, health behaviors, and social connectedness. It is designed to provide health providers, policy makers, and individuals with useful information and insights into these factors, particularly on social and intimate relationships. The study will be important in finding new ways to reduce morbidity and prevent dysfunction and disease as people age.

NORC, with Principal Investigators at the University of Chicago, conducted more than 3,000 interviews during 2005 and 2006 with a nationally representative sample of adults aged 57 to 85. Face-to-face interviews and biomeasure collection took place in respondents' homes.  Data collection elicited: 1) demographic characteristics; 2) social networks; 3) social and cultural activity; 4) physical and mental health including cognition; 5) well-being; 6) illness; 7) medications and alternative therapies; 8) history of sexual and intimate partnerships; and 9) patient-physician communication. NSHAP also collected important health information in the home, prioritizing non-invasive collection techniques and cutting edge technology that minimizes respondent burden. NSHAP plans to conduct follow-up interviews with respondents every three years to collect longitudinal data.

NSHAP Data
NSHAP data are available to the public through ICPSR. Additional information on obtaining the NSHAP data is available here. Further description of the study including the available data elements can be found here.

NSHAP Facts
Find additional information about NSHAP here.

Publications

Tessler-Lindau, S., Schumm, P., Laumann, E.O., Levinson, W., O'Muircheartaigh, C., and Waite, L.J.  2007.  "A Study of Sexuality and Health among Older Adults in the United States," New England Journal of Medicine, 357(8):762-774. 

The Investigator Team
• Linda J. Waite, PhD (Principal Investigator)
• Edward Laumann, PhD
• Wendy Levinson, MD
• Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, MAPP
• Martha McClintock, PhD
• Colm O’Muircheartaigh, PhD
• Phil Schumm, MA

Sponsors
NSHAP is supported by the National Institutes of Health (5R01AG021487), including:  

• National Institute on Aging  

• Office of Research on Women's Health

• Office of AIDS Research

Additional financial support was provided by NORC.