Millennium Cohort Study: cohort profile and data resource update.

Abstract

This cohort profile gives a comprehensive overview of the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a nationally representative study of children born in the UK during 2000-02. The study is for researchers in public health and other disciplines who seek a comprehensive overview of the MCS and its data resources. This profile describes the study design, sampling strategy, population characteristics, breadth of measures collected, the availability of biological samples and linked administrative data, approaches to missing data and attrition, and key resources for navigating and accessing the datasets. Earlier cohort profiles are also updated here, and the full range of data resources currently available (through to the most recent survey of participant at age 23 years) is documented.