From puberty to mid-life: a follow-up study of twins and controls

During the years 1964 to 1971 a group of twins and a control group of singletons in the same classes, were followed from grade 3 at 10 years of age to grade 9 at 16 years of age in the Swedish compulsory school. The study was called the SLU-project (Skolöverstyrelsens och Lärarhögskolans Utvecklingsprojekt) and the main purpose was to study physical and mental growth during puberty as well as heredity and environment influences on these growth processes. Originally 323 twin pairs, MZ and DZ, and 1193 controls were included in the sample. Among the DZ twin pairs there were both same-sex and opposite-sex pairs. They were a nationally representative sample. Several kinds of information were collected, such as, a) Physical measurements (height and weight measurements, menarche, ratings of secondary sex characteristics); b) Ability and achievement measures (intelligence tests, standardized achievement tests); c) Self ratings; d) Ratings by teachers and classmates; e) Socioeconomic background data (fathers occupation and income). For the boys, supplementary data on physical growth and mental ability was collected on enrollment to military service at the age of 18. In this pilot-study, we have made a follow-up of the original SLU-sample after 20 years. They are now in their mid-thirties. The main purpose has been to investigate if they are willing to participate in a new study on health and well-being at mid-life.