Following Lives, Informing Policy: How Longitudinal Data Empower NGOs, Journalists, and Policymakers

Deimantas, Vytenis

doi:10.5281/zenodo.17950943

Following Lives, Informing Policy: How Longitudinal Data Empower NGOs, Journalists, and Policymakers

Deimantas, Vytenis

Publisher: Zenodo
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17950943
Repository: zenodo.org
Language: en

Abstract

This webinar explores how longitudinal data can support evidence-based policymaking, public communication, and advocacy by NGOs and journalists. Using a life-course perspective, it demonstrates why social phenomena such as inequality, health, education, and wellbeing can only be fully understood by following individuals and cohorts over time rather than relying on cross-sectional snapshots. The presentation introduces key types of longitudinal data in Europe, including panel studies, cohort studies, and linked administrative data, and discusses their strengths for analysing trajectories, identifying early divergence, and evaluating policy interventions. Through a case study on childhood socioeconomic conditions and frailty in older age, the webinar illustrates how early-life disadvantage accumulates across the life course and shapes long-term health outcomes. The session also provides practical guidance on accessing major European longitudinal datasets (e.g. SHARE, GGS, ESS) and on effectively communicating longitudinal findings to different audiences, including policymakers, NGOs, journalists, and educators. The webinar is intended for users interested in applying longitudinal evidence to policy, communication, and social impact work. Recording available on CESSDA Training YouTube channel.

Full text

Funded by the European Union Webinar Following Lives, Informing Policy: How Longitudinal Data Empower NGOs, Journalists, and Policymakers Vytenis Deimantas SHARE Berlin Institute Moderated by: Irena Vipavc Brvar Slovenian Social Science Data Archives 11 December 2025 Longitudinal Thinking Transforms Decisions • Societal challenges unfold across time, not at a single point. • Policies, communication, and journalism require understanding long-term change. • Longitudinal data provide this perspective. Challenges You Face 3 What You Will Learn Today 4 5 I. Life Course Logic The Life-Course Perspective 6 Sequence Matters • Inequalities emerge early • Policies influence outcomes across lifetime 7 Life/Time 8 9 II. Longitudinal Data Case Study. Pathways to Frailty - The Role of Childhood Socioeconomic Conditions in Geriatric Health 16 Developmentally people are most fragile in their childhood Poor socio-economic conditions in childhood are associated to poorer health later in life Adapted by Population Europe from Van der Linden, B. W. A., Cheval, B., Sieber, S., Orsholits, D., Guessous, I., Stringhini, S., ... & Cullati, S. (2020). Life course socioeconomic conditions and frailty at older ages. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75(6), 1348-1357. Case Study. Pathways to Frailty - The Role of Childhood Socioeconomic Conditions in Geriatric Health 17 Does this persist in old age? Adapted by Population Europe from Van der Linden, B. W. A., Cheval, B., Sieber, S., Orsholits, D., Guessous, I., Stringhini, S., ... & Cullati, S. (2020). Life course socioeconomic conditions and frailty at older ages. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75(6), 1348-1357. Case Study. Pathways to Frailty - The Role of Childhood Socioeconomic Conditions in Geriatric Health 18 Why is it important? Societies with a higher share of frail individuals are less healthy Higher healthcare needs Lower rates of life satisfaction, especially among older individuals Adapted by Population Europe from Van der Linden, B. W. A., Cheval, B., Sieber, S., Orsholits, D., Guessous, I., Stringhini, S., ... & Cullati, S. (2020). Life course socioeconomic conditions and frailty at older ages. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75(6), 1348-1357. Case Study. Pathways to Frailty - The Role of Childhood Socioeconomic Conditions in Geriatric Health 19 Use longitudinal data on childhood, adulthood and old age: SHARE, including 21,185 individuals aged 50 and older Share results: women and men who grew up in disadvantaged CSC suffer higher odds of being both frail and pre-frail later in life. Analyse the data Identify what and how needs to change: to improve public health conditions in later life improving socioeconomic conditions throughout the life course Adapted by Population Europe from Van der Linden, B. W. A., Cheval, B., Sieber, S., Orsholits, D., Guessous, I., Stringhini, S., ... & Cullati, S. (2020). Life course socioeconomic conditions and frailty at older ages. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75(6), 1348-1357. How can we make sense of a connection between socio-economic conditions in childhood and geriatric health? 20 IV. Accessing Data Cross-national Longitudinal Data in Europe 21 Adapted from Rouvroye , L. (2024) GGP Essentials: Complementary research infrastructures for future-proof social policy GUIDE, GGP, SHARE and ESS. Data Access Links https://www.ggp-i.org/form/acco unts/login/email/?next=/form/ 22 Data Access Links https://share-eric.eu/data/ 23 Data Access Links https://ess.sikt.no/en/ 24 25 V. Communicating Findings Thank you!