The aim of the Whitehall study of British Civil Servants, begun in 1967, is to understand the effect of the social environment on health, and the causes of social inequalities in health. It has shown a steep inverse association between social class, as assessed by grade of employment, and mortality from a wide range of diseases.
Between 1985 and 1988, the degree and causes of the social gradient in morbidity were investigated in a new cohort of 10,314 civil servants, 6,900 men and 3,414 women aged 35-55. Participants were asked to answer a self-administered questionnaire and attend a screening examination.
The main topics covered are: employment grade, education, housing tenure, access to cars, household income, social circumstances at work, participation in social networks and social support, angina, ECG measurements, chronic bronchitis, self perceived health status and symptoms, health-risk behaviours - smoking, diet and exercise.
At the present time GEO coding of residence is being undertaken according to census based measures of deprivation.
Sponsor:
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
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Other periodic
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Year data first available:
1991
Year of latest available data:
1998
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Initial sample taken from 1985-1988.
The sample has been seen on five occasions over a ten year period: medical screening examinations at Phases I, III and V and postal questionnaires at Phases II and IV.
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Deposited with data archive?
Bibliographic material:
Marmot, MG et al Health inequalities among British civil servants: The Whitehall II Study. The Lancet, Vol 337. June 8, 1991 Bosma, H, et al, Low Job Control and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Whitehall II (Prospective Cohort) Study. British Medical Journal Vol 314 22 February 1997.
