Correlates of mental wellbeing in late adulthood: evidence from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development

The MRC NSHD is a stratified sample of 5362 singleton babies born in one week in March 1946 in England, Scotland or Wales. Study members have just celebrated their 70th birthday and have been followed up >20 times. The study has collected information on social and biological factors across life affecting child health and development, educational progress and life chances, and now adult health and ageing. Mental ill health has been captured since adolescence but interest in mental wellbeing is more recent. Instruments capturing the multiple dimensions of wellbeing have been included in late adulthood. This talk will summarise findings based on NSHD data on exposures in childhood and through adulthood that are related to subsequent mental wellbeing.