Summary: studies at different ages
This section provides broad summaries of the TEDS studies carried out at different twin ages: coverage of twin birth cohorts, and types of measure collected at each age.
Cohorts contacted in each study
This table shows broadly which TEDS cohorts were involved in each of the main data collections. In each table cell, "y" means yes, the data were collected. There is considerable variation in the Ns at each data collection - see the data returns page for more detail. An asterisk (*) indicates some exceptions within studies, which are explained in notes below the table. Follow links (above) to each main study's measures page for full details.
| Twin year of birth | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin birth date ranges | Jan-94 to Apr-94 | May-94 to Aug-94 | Sep-94 to Dec-94 | Jan-95 to Apr-95 | May-95 to Aug-95 | Sep-95 to Dec-95 | Jan-96 to Apr-96 | May-96 to Aug-96 | Sep-96 to Dec-96 | ||
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | cohort 1 | cohort 2 | cohort 3 | cohort 4 | |||||
| 1.5 | parent | booklet | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| 2 | parent | booklets | y | y | y | y | y | y | - | - | - |
| 3 | parent | booklets | y | y | y | y | y | y | - | - | - |
| 4 | parent | booklets | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| 4.5 | parent, twins | home visit * | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| 7 | parent, teachers | questionnaires | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| twins | phone tests * | y | y | y | y | y | y | - | - | - | |
| 8 | parent | questionnaire | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| 9 | parent, twins, teachers | booklets | y | y | y | y | y | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | parent, twins | web tests | y | y | y | y | y | - | - | - | - |
| teachers | questionnaire | y | y | y | y | y | - | - | - | - | |
| 12 | parent, twins, teachers | questionnaires | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| twins | web & phone tests | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | |
| 14 | twins | web tests | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| parent, twins | questionnaires * | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | |
| teachers | questionnaire * | y | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 16 | parent, twins | questionnaires | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| twins | some qnr measures * | - | - | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | |
| twins | some qnr measures * | y | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| parent, twins | web tests and qnrs | y | y | y | y | y | - | - | - | - | |
| 18+ | parent, twins | questionnaire * | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| twins | perception web tests | y | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| twins | spatial web tests | y | y | y | y | y | - | - | - | - | |
| twins | FFMP web tests | - | - | - | - | - | y | y | y | - | |
| 21 | parent, twins | TEDS21 qnrs | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| twins | g-game web | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | |
| twins | covid qnrs | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | |
| 26 | twins | TEDS26 qnr | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| twins | CATSLife web tests | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | |
* Exceptions exist where certain measures were not collected across all the cohorts shown for a given study. The main exceptions are as follows.
- Age 4.5 in-home study. Although all cohorts were involved, the study involved a small selected sub-sample, so Ns are small by TEDS standards.
- Age 7 twin phone tests. The Non-Word List Matching measure was dropped after cohort 1.
- Age 14 parent SLQ questionnaire. KS3 national tests results were collected for cohort 1 but national testing then ceased. However, KS3 teacher assessments were collected each year.
- Age 14 teacher questionnaire. This was dropped entirely after cohort 1 due to data collection difficulties and low Ns.
- Age 16 twin booklet: some measures were dropped from the booklet after cohort 1. These measures included SWAN, ICUT, Striking skills, EDDS, Delinquency, MAAS.
- Age 16 twin booklet: other measures were omitted in cohort 1 but then included for subsequent cohorts. These measures included Distress, Trust, Meaning in Life, Basic Psychological Needs, Materialistic Values, Sleep Quality, Insomnia, Asthma, Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs.
- Age 18 questionnaire: questions about school type were only added for cohorts 3 and 4.
Types of measures collected in each study
The table below shows, in broad terms, some of the main categories of measures that were collected in each of the main TEDS studies. Note that this is a simplification because not all measures are easy to categorise in this way. For further details see the study measure pages (links at the top of this page) and also the sections following on this page.
As in the table above, "y" in a table cell means that the given type of measure was collected at the given age.
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | Twin behaviour measures | Twin language reports or tests | Twin general cognitive tests | Other twin tests | Twin educational achievement | Home environment measures | School environment measures | SES | Twin health | General family background |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | parent | booklet | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | y | y | y |
| 2 | parent | booklet | y | y | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | y |
| 3 | parent | booklet | y | y | y | - | - | y | - | - | y | y |
| 4 | parent | booklet | y | y | y | - | - | y | - | - | y | y |
| 4.5 | twins | home visit | y | y | y | - | - | y | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | parent | questionnaire | y | - | - | - | - | y | - | y | y | y |
| teachers | questionnaire | y | - | - | - | y | - | y | - | - | - | |
| twins | phone tests | - | y | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 8 | parent | questionnaire | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | parent | questionnaire | y | y | - | - | - | y | y | y | y | y |
| teachers | questionnaire | y | y | - | - | y | - | y | - | - | - | |
| twins | questionnaire | y | - | y | - | - | y | y | - | - | - | |
| 10 | twins | web tests & qnr | - | y | y | - | - | y | y | - | - | - |
| teachers | questionnaire | - | y | - | - | y | - | y | - | - | - | |
| 12 | parent | questionnaires | y | - | - | - | y | - | - | - | - | y |
| teachers | questionnaire | y | - | - | - | y | - | - | - | - | - | |
| twins | questionnaire | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | y | - | |
| twins | web test & qnr, phone test | - | y | y | y | - | y | y | - | - | - | |
| 14 | parent | questionnaires | y | y | - | - | y | y | - | - | - | - |
| teachers | questionnaire | y | - | - | - | y | - | y | - | - | - | |
| twins | questionnaire | y | - | - | - | - | y | - | - | y | - | |
| twins | web tests | - | - | y | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 16 | parent | qnr (paper + web) | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | y | - | y |
| twins | qnr (paper + web) | y | - | - | - | y | y | - | - | y | y | |
| twins | web tests | - | y | y | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 18+ | parent, twins | questionnaire | - | - | - | - | y | - | y | - | - | - |
| twins | Perception web tests | - | - | - | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| twins | Spatial web tests | - | - | - | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| twins | FFMP web qnr | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | y | - | |
| 21 | parent | TEDS21 qnr | y | - | - | - | - | y | - | y | - | - |
| twins | TEDS21 qnrs | y | - | - | - | y | y | - | y | y | y | |
| twins | g-game web | - | - | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| twins | covid qnrs | y | - | - | - | - | y | - | - | y | y | |
| 26 | twins | TEDS26 qnr | y | - | - | - | y | - | - | y | y | y |
| twins | CATSLife web | - | - | - | y | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | Twin behaviour measures | Twin language reports or tests | Twin general cognitive tests | Other twin tests | Twin educational achievement | Home environment measures | School environment measures | SES | Twin health | General family background |
Specific measures used longitudinally
The sections below provide more detailed summaries of specific measures, grouped by type, that have been collected at different ages in TEDS. Under each heading there is a table to show measures, or types of measure, that have been collected repeatedly at different ages.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all measures collected in TEDS. A few measures have had to be omitted: such measures are often short, not published, not repeated across ages, and not easily categorised into the sections below.
Cognitive and language measures
Cognitive tests, and reports of cognitive abilities, have been included in many of the TEDS data collections. The table below groups the cognitive measures into broad types, and shows which measures have been used at which ages. Table cells show brief names of relevant measures. For full details of measures including references, see the study measures pages that are linked at the top of this page.
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | 'g' composite (general cognive ability) | Non-verbal cognitive tests | Verbal, language and reading tests | Language reports | Maths and numerical tests | Other types of test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | parent | booklet | yes | PARCA: Drawing, Matching, Folding, Copying, Brick building, parent report | - | MCDI: Vocabulary, Word Use, Sentence Complexity | - | - |
| 3 | parent | booklet | yes | PARCA: Drawing, Matching, Odd-one-out, parent report | - | MCDI: Vocabulary, Word Use, Sentence Complexity. Communication items. |
- | - |
| 4 | parent | booklet | yes | PARCA: Drawing, Draw-a-man, Odd-one-out, Puzzle, parent report | Picture vocabulary | MCDI: Vocabulary. Grammar, Abstract Language, use of numbers. Literacy and phonology. Communication items. |
- | - |
| 4.5 | twin | in home tests | - | McCarthy Scales (18 tests) | Phonological Awareness, Goldman-Fristoe, Nonword Repetition, Bus Story, Action Picture, British Ability Scales | - | - | - |
| 7 | twin | phone tests | yes | McCarthy: Conceptual Grouping. WISC: Picture Completion |
WISC: Vocabulary, Similarities. TOWRE. Non-word list matching. |
- | - | - |
| parent | questionnaire | - | - | - | Speech difficulties | - | - | |
| 9 | twin | questionnaire | yes | CAT3: Shapes, Puzzles. | WISC: Vocabulary, General Knowledge. | - | - | - |
| parent, teacher | questionnaires | - | - | - | Communications Checklist | - | - | |
| 10 | twin | web tests | yes | Ravens Progressive Matrices. WISC: Picture Completion. |
WISC: Vocabulary, General Knowledge. PIAT. Author Recognition. |
- | Maths test | - |
| teacher | questionnaire | - | - | - | CELF | - | - | |
| 12 | twin | web tests (and phone for TOWRE) |
yes | Ravens Progressive Matrices. WISC: Picture Completion. |
WISC: Vocabulary, General Knowledge. PIAT. Author Recognition. TOWRE. Figurative Language, Inferences, Listening Grammar. GOAL. Reading Fluency. |
- | Maths test | Spatial tests: Hidden Shapes, Jigsaws. Eyes test. |
| 14 | twin | web tests | yes | Ravens Progressive Matrices | WISC: Vocabulary | - | - | Science test |
| parent | questionnaire | - | - | - | Second language acquisition | - | - | |
| 16 | twin | web tests | yes | Ravens Progressive Matrices | Mill Hill Vocabulary. Reading Fluency. Passages Comprehension. Figurative Language. |
- | Maths test. Dot Number Matching, Dot Task, Problem Verification Task, Corsi Tapping Block, Number Line, Reaction Times. |
Spatial tests: Hidden Shapes, Jigsaws. Eyes test. |
| 18+ | twin | web tests (4 studies) | - | - | - | - | - | Perception tests. Spatial tests: Bricks, Kings Challenge, Navigation |
| 21 | twin | web test (g-game) | yes | Ravens Progressive Matrices. ISTO/NVRA/NVRB. |
Mill Hill Vocabulary. Missing Letter. Verbal Reasoning. |
- | - | - |
| 26 | twin | web tests (CATSLife) | - | - | TMB Vocabulary | - | - | TMB memory tests: Word Pairs, Numbers.
TMB processing speed test: Matching Shapes and Numbers. Spatial test: Spatial Spy. |
Education, attainment and school environment
The table below provides a summary of TEDS measurements of educational attainment together with measures relating to special educational needs, learning difficulties, classroom/school environment or education/school more generally. Table cells show brief names or descriptions of relevant measures. For full details of measures including references, see the study measures pages that are linked at the top of this page.
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | Official UK assessments and qualifications | Current reports of National Curriculum ratings | Special educational needs, classroom support, learning disabilities | Classroom or school environment | Other education-related |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | parent | questionnaire | - | - | Diagnosed learning difficulties. SEN and classroom support. |
- | Twin attendance and feelings about school. |
| teacher | questionnaire | - | Maths and English ratings | Diagnosed learning difficulties. SEN and classroom support. |
- | Twin attendance and feelings about school. | |
| 8 | parent | questionnaire | - | - | Diagnosed learning difficulties. | - | Striking skills |
| 9 | parent | questionnaire | - | - | Diagnosed learning difficulties. SEN. |
CEQ | Motivational perceived ability |
| teacher | questionnaire | - | Maths, English and Science ratings | SEN | CEQ. School type. Homework. |
Motivational perceived ability | |
| twin | questionnaire | - | - | - | CEQ | Motivational perceived ability | |
| 10 | teacher | questionnaire | - | Maths, English and Science ratings | SEN | CEQ. Classroom chaos. |
- |
| twin | web questionnaire | - | - | - | Maths and reading in school | - | |
| 12 | parent | questionnaire | - | Maths, English and Science ratings from end of year reports | - | - | - |
| teacher | questionnaire | - | Maths, English and Science ratings | SEN | - | - | |
| twin | questionnaires | - | - | - | Maths and reading in school (web qnr) | Motivational perceived ability | |
| 14 | parent | questionnaire | KS3 end-of-key-stage ratings | - | - | - | - |
| teacher | questionnaire | - | Maths, English and Science ratings | SEN | School type | - | |
| twin | web | - | - | - | Influences on student outcomes | Planned educational courses. Parental attitudes to education. |
|
| 16 | parent and twins | questionnaires | GCSE and other age 16 exam results | - | - | - | Striking skills |
| twin | web | - | - | - | Student classroom environment. PISA: classroom environment, homework, use of school resources, time spent on maths. |
Academic self concept. School engagement. PISA: attitudes towards school and subjects, maths self-efficacy and interest. |
|
| 18 | parent and twins | questionnaires | A-level and other post-16 exam results | - | - | School type when doing GCSE | Entry to higher education |
| 21 | twin | TEDS21 qnr | - | - | Diagnosed learning difficulties | - | Highest level of education. Higher education outcomes. Payment of university fees. College student experiences. |
| twin | covid qnrs | - | - | - | - | Effects of covid crisis on college studies. | |
| 26 | twin | TEDS26 qnr | - | - | - | - | Highest level of education. Payment of university fees. |
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | Official UK assessments and qualifications | Current reports of National Curriculum ratings | Special educational needs, classroom support, learning disabilities | Classroom or school environment | Other education-related |
Behaviour and Psychopathology Measures
The table below summarises the major categories of behaviour or psychopathology trait measure that have been represented in repeated data collections in TEDS. Table cells show brief names of relevant measures followed by the number of items in brackets. Some mental health measures that relate to psychopathology are listed under the Health heading further down this page.
For full details of measures including references, see the study measures pages that are linked at the top of this page. There are sometimes variations in the measures across ages even when they are given the same name in the table, e.g. different versions of the Conners have been used, and different subsets of items for the MFQ.
Some of the longer behaviour measures commonly used in TEDS have subscales measuring different traits (subject to the number of items included in any given questionnaire):
- SDQ and Behar subscales: hyperactivity, prosocial, conduct problems, emotion problems, peer problems
- ARBQ subscales: OCB, fear, shyness (social anxiety), negative affect, negative cognition
- CAST subscales: social, non-social, communication
- APSD subscales: callous-unemotional, narcissism, impulsivity
- Conners subscales: hyperactivity/impulsivity, inattention
- SPEQ subscales: paranoia, hedonia, hallucinations, grandiosity, cognitive disorganisation (self-rated) and negative symptoms (parent-rated)
- Victimisation subscales: physical, verbal, social manipulation, property
This table is followed by a further table of behaviour measures that do not fall into the category headings. Measures of symptoms or diagnoses for mental health problems may also be listed in the Health section elsewhere on this page.
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | General behaviour measures | ASD traits | Anxiety, Depression traits | ADHD, Hyperactivity traits | Psychopathy, Aggression traits | Victimisation, violence, trauma | Psychotic Experiences, Mania |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | parent | booklet | Behar / revised SDQ (43) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | parent | booklet | Behar / revised SDQ (44) | - | ARBQ (5) | Hyperactivity (3) | - | - | - |
| 4 | parent | booklet | SDQ (24), Behar (19) | CHAT (6?) | ARBQ (12) | Hyperactivity (3) | - | - | - |
| 4.5 | tester | in home visit | Bayley (26) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | parent | questionnaire | SDQ (25) | DSM-IV items (7) | ARBQ (20) | Hyperactivity (2) | APSD (9) | - | - |
| teacher | questionnaire | SDQ (25) | DSM-IV items (7) | ARBQ (18) | Hyperactivity (2) | APSD (8) | - | - | |
| 8 | parent | questionnaire | - | CAST (37) | - | Conners (18) | - | - | - |
| 9 | parent | questionnaire | SDQ (25) | CAST (18) | ARBQ (20) | - | APSD (20), Aggression (6), ODD (5) |
- | - |
| teacher | questionnaire | SDQ (25) | CAST (18) | - | - | APSD (20), Aggression (6), ODD (5) |
- | - | |
| twin | questionnaire | SDQ (25) | CAST (20) | - | - | ODD (5) | - | - | |
| 12 | parent | questionnaire | SDQ (25) | CAST (30) | MFQ (11) | Conners (18) | APSD (20) | - | - |
| teacher | questionnaire | SDQ (25) | CAST (30) | - | - | APSD (20) | - | - | |
| twin | questionnaire | SDQ (25) | - | MFQ (11) | - | - | Victimisation (16) | - | |
| 14 | parent | questionnaire | - | AQ (38) | - | Conners (18) | APSD (20) | Victimisation (16) | - |
| teacher | questionnaire | - | - | - | Conners (18) | APSD (20) | Victimisation (16) | - | |
| twin | questionnaire | - | - | - | Conners (18) | - | Victimisation (16) | - | |
| 16 | parent | questionnaire | SDQ (17) | AQ (28) | ARBQ (19), MFQ (11) | Conners (21) | ICUT (24) | - | SPEQ: SANS (10) |
| twin | questionnaire | SDQ (24) | AQ (13) | CASI (18), MFQ (13) |
SWAN (18) | ICUT (24), Delinquency (8) | Victimisation in web qnr (6) | SPEQ (53), Distress (4), PLIKS (29), HCL (22) |
|
| 21 | parent | TEDS21 qnr | SDQ (25) | - | - | Conners (18) | - | - | SPEQ: SANS (10) |
| twin | TEDS21 qnr | SDQ (25) | - | MFQ (8), GAD-D (10) |
Conners (20) | BAQ (8), Antisocial Behaviour (17), Criminality (6) |
Victimisation (16) and Perpetration
(16), Peer pressure (7), Online bullying (4), Intimate partner violence (6), Childhood experiences (8) |
SPEQ (24) | |
| twin | covid qnrs | SDQ (25) | - | MFQ (8), GAD-D (10) |
- | - | Victimisation (12), Intimate partner violence (6) |
- | |
| 26 | twin | TEDS26 qnr | SDQ (25) | RAADS (6) | MFQ (13), GAD-D (10), PHQ2 (2), GAD2 (2), WASAS (6), CIDID (28), CIDIA (18) |
Conners (11) | ICUT (7) | CTS (5), ATS (15), PCL (6) |
SPEQ (34), MDQ (6) |
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | General behaviour measures | ASD traits | Emotion, Anxiety, Depression traits | ADHD and Hyperactivity traits | Psychopathy and Aggression traits | Victimisation, violence, trauma | Psychotic Experiences, Mania |
Other behaviour or psychopathology trait measures that do not obviously fall into the categories above, and that have not been used more than once or twice in TEDS data collections, are listed below.
| Broad category | Names of measures | TEDS data collections |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Gender role behaviour | Age 3 (parent), Age 4 (parent) |
| Gender identification | Age 26 (twin) | |
| Wellbeing | SHS, BMSLSS | Age 16 (twin web and twin paper) |
| Hopefulness, Gratitude, Curiosity, Grit, Optimism | Age 16 (twin web) | |
| Trust, Meaning in Life, Basic Psychological Needs, Materialistic Values | Age 16 (twin paper questionnaire) | |
| Subjective Wellbeing | Age 26 (twin) | |
| Miscellaneous other | HSC (sensitivity), MAAS (awareness) | Age 16 (twin) |
| RPQ (relationship problems) | Age 8 (parent) | |
| Specific phobias, Social phobia, Panic disorder, Agoraphobia | Age 26 (twin) | |
| Handedness | Ages 1.5, 3, 4 (parent),
Age 16 (twin) |
|
| Personality | Big 5 (personality traits) | Age 16 (twin web), Age 21 (twin) |
| SASPD (personality disorders) | Age 26 (twin) | |
| Opinions and views | Fashion, food and music preferences | FFMP (twin web) |
| BSA Environment, BSA Democracy and Government, Perceptions of heritability, Centrality of Religion Scale, Attitudes towards marriage, Life Role Salience | TEDS21 (twin) | |
| Emerging adulthood | Self Control, Future consequences, Volunteering, CLAS finances, Hassles, Ambition, Attitudes to Money, Financial Products, Internet Dating | TEDS21 (twin) |
| Goals, Purpose in Life, CLAS (love and relationships, community) | Age 21 (twin, both TEDS21 and covid) | |
| Risk-taking | TEDS21 (parent, twin) |
Home environment and family background
The table below summarises measures related to home environment, family background, and parent-specific or family-specific measures generally. Table cells show brief names or descriptions of relevant measures. For full details of measures including references, see the study measures pages that are linked at the top of this page.
Twin health-related measures/items are listed separately in the section below, so are not included in this table.
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | Home environment measures | Other twin background measures | Parent-specific measures including SES | General family background and family history |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | parent | booklet | Dressing the twins. Care of twins. |
Zygosity. Ethnic origin. Language spoken. Handedness. |
Respondent and partner: SES (educational level, employment), marital status and relationships to twins | Siblings of twins. |
| 2 | parent | booklet | - | - | - | Family events including illness, job changes, new siblings, marital status |
| 3 | parent | booklet | Chaos at home. Parental feelings and discipline. HOME: twin play, parents talking to twins. Dressing the twins. Care of twins. |
Zygosity. Handedness. |
Maternal postnatal depression. Maternal diabetes. Parent height and weight. |
Family events including illness, job changes, new siblings, marital status |
| 4 | parent | booklet | Chaos at home. Parental feelings and discipline. HOME: twin play, parents talking to twins. Dressing the twins. Care of twins. |
Zygosity. Handedness. |
Maternal postnatal depression. Parent height and weight. |
Family history of medical problems.
Family events including illness, job changes, new siblings, marital status. |
| 4.5 | parent | questionnaire | Twin play and toys | - | Parent vocabulary test | - |
| tester | post-visit ratings | Home observations. Parent-child interactions. | - | - | - | |
| 7 | parent | questionnaire | Parental feelings and discipline. | - | Respondent and partner: SES (educational level,
employment), marital status and relationship to twins.
Changes to household finances. |
Life events checklist. |
| 9 | parent | questionnaire | Chaos at home. Parental feelings and discipline. General home environment including parental attitudes to education, homework routines, reading/books, TV. |
- | SES: household income.
Changes to household finances. Respondent and partner: marital status and relationship to twins. |
Family history of language delays. Life events checklist. Other adults living in the home. |
| twin | questionnaire | Chaos at home. Parental feelings and discipline. General home environment including parental attitudes to education, homework routines, reading/books, TV. |
- | - | - | |
| 10 | parent | web qnr | - | - | Parent reading and maths abilities | - |
| twin | web qnr | General home environment including homework routines, reading/books, TV. | - | - | - | |
| 12 | parent | booklet | Chaos at home. Parental feelings and discipline. |
- | Parent adult literacy | - |
| twin | booklet | Chaos at home. Parental feelings and discipline. |
- | - | - | |
| twin | web qnr | General home environment including homework routines, reading/books, TV. | - | - | - | |
| 14 | parent | questionnaire | Chaos at home. Parental feelings and discipline. |
- | - | - |
| twin | questionnaire | Chaos at home. Parental feelings and discipline. VIP scale. Parental attitudes to education. |
Extra-curricular activities | - | - | |
| 16 | parent | booklet | Paranoid parenting | - | - | Coddington life events. Family history of schizophrenia and bipolar. |
| parent | web qnr | - | - | SES: maternal and paternal education and employment levels; household income | - | |
| twin | booklet | - | Handedness | - | Coddington life events | |
| twin | web qnr | Chaos at home. Parental discipline. Parental monitoring and control. Screen time. |
Use of social networks. Peer attachment. |
- | - | |
| 18 | parent, twins | questionnaire | - | Current status and living arrangements | - | - |
| twins | FFMP web tests | - | Preferences for food, fashion and music | - | - | |
| 21 | parent | TEDS21 qnr | Parental feelings | Current status and living arrangements | SES: maternal and paternal education and employment levels; household income | - |
| twin | TEDS21 qnrs | Chaos at home | Twin SES: educational level, employment and
apprenticeship, benefits.
Current status and living arrangements. Relationship status. Media use and attitudes. PRIUSS. Extra curricular activities. |
- | Coddington life events.
Contact and relationships with mother and father. |
|
| twin | covid qnrs | - | Effects of crisis on employment.
Current status and living arrangements. Media use. |
- | Contact with mother and father. | |
| 26 | twin | TEDS26 qnr | - | Twin SES: education, employment and income levels, benefits. Twin marital status. Ethnic origin. |
- | Coddington life events |
| Twin age | Reported by | Collection type | Home environment measures | Other twin background measures | Parent-specific measures including SES | General family background and family history |
Twin health
Many TEDS data collections have included questions about twin health. Most of these have been one-off measures, not repeated at other ages (with a few exceptions like height/weight and puberty). Where a health issue was raised at several ages (for example hearing or asthma), generally the question(s) were customised at each age and not repeats of the same specific measure. Often the questions were devised by TEDS researchers or collaborators and were not part of named measures. Sometimes there was just a single question (yes/no for ADHD diagnosis, for example). Hence, the table below is not a list of specific measures as such, but is rather a list of twin medical or health-related issues that have been addressed at various ages.
Some mental health measures appear under the heading Behaviour and Psychopathology above, especially those measuring traits. The mental health measures listed in the table below are generally either those that give reports of diagnoses or those that describe specific symptoms, rather than those describing more general behaviour traits.
The TEDS26 questionnaire had a focus on mental health. The measures from TEDS26 are listed either
| Broad category | Health measures | Ages (parent booklet) | Ages (twin report) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMI, Diet, Eating Disorders | Twin height and weight | 1.5 (at birth), 3, 4, 7 | 12, 14, 16 (web), 21, 26 |
| Parental attitudes to twin diet | 3, 4 | - | |
| Dietary requirements or preferences | - | 18+ (FFMP web): food preferences. 21: dietary requirements, REAP healthy eating. 26: dietary requirement. |
|
| Eating disorders and body dysmorphia | - | 16: EDDS. 21: ED diagnoses, symptoms. 26: ED screener, BDD. |
|
| Puberty, Sexual Health | PDS puberty | - | 12, 14, 16 (web) |
| Sexual orientation and behaviour | - | 21: sexual orientation and behaviour. 26: sexual orientation, gender |
|
| Contraception, STDs, PMS | - | 21: contraception, STDs. 26: hormonal contraception, PMS |
|
| Drug use | Alcohol, smoking, cannabis | - | 16, 21 (TEDS21 and covid), 26 |
| Other drug use | - | 16, 21 (including cognitive enhancers) | |
| Birth and infancy | Pregnancy, birth, perinatal problems | 1.5 | 21, 26: twin children and pregnancy |
| Breast feeding, infant feeding | 1.5, 3 | - | |
| Bed-time, sleeping patterns | 1.5, 3, 4 | - | |
| Potty training, wetting and soiling | 3, 4, 7 | - | |
| GP visits and hospital events | 1.5, 3, 4, 7 | - | |
| Physical health | Hearing problems | 1.5, 3, 4, 7, 9 | - |
| Speech problems | 1.5, 3, 4, 7 | - | |
| Eyesight problems | 1.5, 3, 4, 9 | 16 | |
| Asthma | 3, 4, 7, 16 | 26 | |
| Allergies | 4, 7, 9 | 18+ (FFMP web), 21, 26 | |
| Eczema and skin problems | 3, 4, 7, 9 | 26 | |
| Fits or seizures, epilepsy | 1.5, 3, 4, 7 | 21, 26 | |
| Tics and twitches | 7 | - | |
| Meningitis | 4 | - | |
| Diabetes | 3, 4 | 26 | |
| Other physical health diagnoses | 1.5, 7, 8, 9 | 26 | |
| General aches and pains, somatic symptoms | 3, 4, 7 | 26: PHQ measure | |
| Covid-19 virus infection | - | 21 covid qnrs (CRISIS measure), 26 | |
| Exercise | - | 21 (including sports), 26 | |
| Mental health problems | Sleep problems | - | 16: PSQI, Insomnia Severity. 21, 26: sleep quality. 26: MCTQ (chronotype) |
| Self harm | - | 21, 26 | |
| Mental health medication, professional help | - | 21, 26 | |
| Specific symptom measures:
CIDID (depression), CIDIA (anxiety), specific phobia, social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, MDQ (mania and hypomania), PCL (PTSD), ED screener (eating disorders), SASPD (personality disorders) |
- | 26 | |
| ADHD diagnosis reports | 7, 8, 9 | 21, 26 | |
| ASD diagnosis reports | 7, 8, 9 | 21, 26 | |
| Reported diagnoses of anxiety, depression, OCD,
PTSD, bipolar, personality disorder, eating disorders |
- | 21, 26 | |
| Other mental health reported diagnoses | - | 26 | |
| Other reported learning difficulties, e.g. dyslexia | 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 | 21 | |
| Health economics | Short Health Economics: day-to-day difficulties | - | 21 |
| Long Health Economics: use of professional resources | - | 21 | |
| Broad category | Health measures | Ages (parent booklet) | Ages (twin report) |