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Table 1 Description of the sample and variables used in the analysis

From: Is mid-life social participation associated with cognitive function at age 50? Results from the British National Child Development Study (NCDS)

  Number Frequencies (%)/Mean (S.D) % missing
Cognition
 Standardized score at age 11   8448 0.44 (3.12) 7.4
 Standardized score at age 50   8751 0.02 (2.41) 4.0
Social network
Age 33   
 Has at least 1 friend/ neighbour/ colleague could turn to for advice (Number of people showed only for description; variable used as dichotomous)   7961 12.7
No/No one mentioned   56.3  
Yes/Someone mentioned   43.7  
0 people mentioned   56.3  
1 person mentioned   28.2  
2 people   12.2  
3 people   2.7  
4 people   0.3  
 Has at least 1 member of family could turn to for advice (Number of people showed only for description; variable used as dichotomous)   7961 12.7
No/No one mentioned   8.7  
Yes/Someone mentioned   91.3  
0 people mentioned   8.7  
1 person mentioned   21.8  
2 people   25.5  
3 people   28.2  
4 people   15.8  
 Number of civic group activities participated in (used as continual variable; categories showed only for description)   7961 0.22 (0.52) 12.7
No activity   82.7  
1 activity   13.8  
2 activities   2.8  
3+   0.7  
Age 42    
 Has somebody could turn to for advice/support   8641   7.2
No   3.3  
Yes, family member   75.0  
Yes, friend/neighbour/colleague   21.7  
Age 50   
 Number of civic group activities participated in (used as continual variable; categories showed only for description)   9117 0.49 (0.80) 0.1
No activity   65.1  
1 activity   24.6  
2 activities   7.5  
3+   2.8  
Health and health behaviour
Age 33   
 Self-rated health   7843 14.0
Poor   1.3  
Fair   11.1  
Good   52.2  
Excellent   35.4  
Age 42   
 Mental well-being (Malaise score; 9-item version)   8412 7.8
Better (0–3)   88.5  
Worse (4+)   11.5  
 Frequency of drinking alcohol   8459  
Never   1.2  
Not now/ special occasions   16.0  
Once in a week   29.9  
More often   52.9  
 Frequency of smoking   8464 7.2
No   46.1  
Used to/ occasionally   30.2  
Daily   23.7  
 Takes part in sporting activities and frequency   8455 7.3
Not regularly/less often than once in month   27.7  
2–3 times in month   6.5  
Once in week   18.8  
2–3 times in week   21.2  
4 times in week/every day   25.8  
Socio-economic background
Age 11   
 Father’s (male head) social class   8249 9.5
Professional   5.8  
Managerial-technical   19.2  
Skilled non-manual   9.5  
Skilled manual   40.2  
Partly skilled   15.8  
Unskilled   5.0  
No male head   4.5  
 Housing tenure   8342 8.6
Owner occupied   48.1  
Council rented   39.8  
Private rented   7.3  
Rent free   4.8  
Age 42   
 Own social class   7297 20.0
Professional   5.6  
Managerial-technical   38.9  
Skilled non-manual   21.6  
Skilled manual   19.2  
Partly skilled   11.9  
Unskilled   2.8  
Age 50   
 Highest achieved qualification   9113 0.1
None   11.0  
CSE or equivalent   11.2  
GCSE or equivalent   25.4  
AS/A level or equivalent   17.2  
Degree/teaching diploma/vocational NVQ4 diploma   30.8  
Higher Degree/vocational NVQ5 diploma   4.4  
Other
Gender   9119 0
Male   49.0  
Female   51.0  
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