German Ageing Survey

The German Ageing Survey (DEAS) is a nationwide representative cross-sectional and longitudinal survey of the German population aged over 40.

The study focuses on two main perspectives:

  • Actual life situation: How do people live in the second half of their lives and how greatly do the life situations of these people differ?
  • Change in life situations: How have life situa­tions in the second half of life changed over the period 1996-2008? In which areas of life has the situation improved and in which has it deteriorated, in which areas are the situations of individuals becoming similar and in which do differences between people increase?

DEAS microdata is available free of charge to scientific researchers for non-profitable purposes (www.dza.de/en/fdz/german-ageing-survey.html).

Overview

Acronym
DEAS
Website
DEAS
Investigators
Dr. Katharina Mahne
The German Centre of Gerontology
Dr. Julia Wolff
The German Centre of Gerontology
Contacts
Prof. Dr. Clemens Tesch-Roemer
The German Centre of Gerontology

General Design

Study design
Cohort
Start - End Year
1996 -
General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)

The first survey took place in 1996, further waves followed in 2002, 2008 and 2011. Since 2011 participants are followed every 3 years.

Recruitment Target
  • Individuals
Number of Participants
14,713

Access

Availability of data and biosamples

Possible Access to Data
Possible Access to Biosamples
Other

Marker Papers

Engstler, H., & Schmiade, N. (2013). The German Ageing Survey (DEAS) - a longitudinal and time-series study of people in the second half of life. Schmollers Jahrbuch, 133(1), 97-107. doi: 10.3790/schm.133.1.97

Timeline

Populations

DEAS - Base Sample 1996 (German citizens)

Disproportionably stratified population register sampling according to age (40-54, 55-69, 70-85 years old) sex and geographical location (East/West) of the German population living in private households in the birth cohorts 1911-1956

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
40
Maximum age
85
Countries
  • Germany

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Volunteer enrolment

Sample Size

Number of Participants
4,838

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 DEAS - Wave I
  • Questionnaires
  • Other : Paper and pencil interview (PAPI)
1996 1996
1 DEAS - Wave II
  • Questionnaires
  • Other : Paper and pencil interview (PAPI)
2002 2002
2 DEAS - Wave III
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2008 (April) 2008 (November)
3 DEAS - Wave IV
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2011 2011
4 DEAS - wave V
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2014 2014
DEAS - Non-German Nationals 2002

Random sampling of non-German nationals in the birth cohorts 1917-1962 living in private households in the same local districts as Wave 1.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
40
Maximum age
85
Countries
  • Germany

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Volunteer enrolment

Sample Size

Number of Participants
586

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 DEAS - Wave II
  • Questionnaires
  • Other : Paper and pencil interview (PAPI)
2002 2002
DEAS - Base Sample 2002 (German citizens)

Disproportionably stratified population register sampling according to age (40-54, 55-69, 70-85 years old) sex and geographical location (East/West) of the German population living in private households in the birth cohorts 1917-1962.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
40
Maximum age
85
Countries
  • Germany

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Volunteer enrolment

Sample Size

Number of Participants
3,084

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 DEAS - Wave II
  • Questionnaires
  • Other : Paper and pencil interview (PAPI)
2002 2002
1 DEAS - Wave III
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2008 (April) 2008 (November)
2 DEAS - Wave IV
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2011 2011
3 DEAS - wave V
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2014 2014
DEAS - Base Sample 2008 (Permanent residents in Germany, both German citizens and Non-German Nationals)

Disproportionably stratified population register sampling according to age (40-54, 55-69, 70-85 years old) sex and geographical location (East/West) of the German population living in private households in the birth cohorts 19123-1968

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
40
Maximum age
85
Countries
  • Germany

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Volunteer enrolment

Sample Size

Number of Participants
6,205

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 DEAS - Wave III
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2008 (April) 2008 (November)
1 DEAS - Wave IV
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2011 2011
2 DEAS - wave V
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2014 2014
DEAS - Base Sample 2014 (Permanent residents in Germany, both German citizens and Non-German Nationals)

Disproportionably stratified population register sampling according to age (40-54, 55-69, 70-85 years old) sex and geographical location (East/West) of the German population living in private households in the birth cohorts 1929-1974

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
40
Maximum age
85
Countries
  • Germany

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Volunteer enrolment

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 DEAS - wave V
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Other : Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)
2014 2014

Participating Studies

Acronym Name Study design Countries

Harmonization Initiatives Included

Acronym Name

Datasets

Name Data Collection Events Variables

Areas of Information Collected

Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Death
Lifestyle and behaviours
Physical measures and assessments
Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
Laboratory measures
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Diseases
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Symptoms and signs
Preschool, school and work life
Medication and supplements
Social environment and relationships
Non-pharmacological interventions
Physical environment
Health and community care services utilization
Administrative information

Variables Content Summary

Areas of Information Collected
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected

Networks

Acronym Name Harmonization Initiatives Individual Studies
Last Update: 2026-05-19T11:04:50.618