Scottish Longitudinal Study

Organisation responsible: The Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) was established and is maintained by the Longitudinal Studies Centre - Scotland. It is hosted and managed by the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

Background and purpose: The SLS is a large-scale linkage study which has been created by using data available from current Scottish administrative and statistical sources. These include Census data, Vital Events data (births, deaths, marriages), National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR) data (migration into or out of Scotland) and NHS data (cancer registrations and hospital admissions). More detail on the list of data included can be found on the SLS website.

The SLS is a replica of the England and Wales Longitudinal Study (LS), with a few key differences. The LS began with data from the 1971 Census while the SLS began with data from the 1991 Census. The SLS is also based on a larger sample: 5.3% of the Scottish population compared to a 1% sample in England and Wales.

The SLS provides a high quality longitudinal research dataset, the largest of its kind in Scotland, which can be used to provide an insight into the health and social status of the Scottish population. Inclusion of demographic, socio-economic and health information allows the study of a range of social science and health questions such as geographic and social inequalities in health, ethnic health, occupational mortality and morbidity, fertility changes, social mobility and family reconstitution. It is envisaged that the data will be used for academic research, social policy and by government departments.

Study length: The study includes data from the 1991 and 2001 Censuses. Annual events information is included from 1991 onwards, with the exception of fertility events which go back to 1974. The study was also linked to the 2011 Census in early 2014. 

Study content: 1991 and 2001 Census information (occupation, economic activity, housing, ethnicity, age, sex, marital status, health, education, religion etc), vital statistics (live births, stillbirths, infant mortality, deaths, widow(er)hoods, marriages) population data (immigration, emigration) health data (cancer registrations, hospital episodes).

Target population: Scottish population.

Sample size: Approximately 274,000 individuals, a 5.3% representative sample of the Scottish population drawn from the 1991 Census (sampling based on 20 birthdays).

Response rate: Not applicable (the census is compulsory; linkage and trace rates are high).

Method of data collection: Linked data from the Scottish Census and administrative records.

Smallest geographic unit reported: Local authority areas are the lowest spatial level on which data are given to users. While smaller area geographical identifiers are attached to SLS members, the scale at which analysis is allowed depends on the specific details of the proposed study. No analyses are allowed which could compromise the confidentiality of individuals in the SLS.

Availability of results and further information: The SLS is not a publicly accessible dataset available through any of the academic data archives. Potential users must apply for access. Researchers are provided with free support from a dedicated support team. As the data are highly confidential, researchers do not receive individual-level data directly. Instead, they may analyse data either remotely or in a safe-setting. For further information on accessing data, visit the SLS webpages.