The Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS) is a wide-ranging database of people and their major life events, stretching back decades. It is proportionally the largest longitudinal study in the UK covering 28% of the Northern Ireland population and accounting for approximately 50% of Northern Ireland households.
The NILS ‘core’ data are drawn from the Health Card Registration data and then linked to Census returns (1981, 1991, 2001 & 2011), Vital Events (births, deaths and marriages), Migration and Property data. Full metadata for the NILS can be viewed here.
The result is over 30 years of longitudinal data which is regularly being updated. In addition to this rich resource there is the potential to link further Health and Social Care data via Distinct Linkage Projects as well as the option of using the Northern Ireland Mortality Study (NIMS) for more detailed investigation into NI mortality patterns.
The NILS Research Support Team is made up of staff from Queen’s University Belfast and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. There are five key members of the team based at QUB who are responsible for developing project ideas, initiating partnerships with external organisations, promoting the research potential and results arising from NILS-related work.
The role of the NISRA Research Support Unit (RSU) is to advise researchers on the technical aspects of data access, provide information on variables and allow researchers safe access to project specific de-identified data in a secure environment in order to carry out secondary data analysis. Access to the data is governed by protocols and procedures to ensure data confidentiality. Researchers are supported by RSU through the application, accreditation, analysis and output processes.
Research Fellow
Research Interests: bio-psycho-social modelling of health, health geography. Current work: health effects of social isolation, socio-economic determinants of obesity.
Co-Investigator
Research Interests: economics of the labour market, social policy, health and health behaviours. Current work: dynamic relationships between disability, employment and benefit claiming; the impacts of zero hours contracts on workers; and the health impacts of pollution.
Co-Investigator
Research Interests: development of social roles, particularly within organisations, and the outworkings this has for individuals’ mental health and wellbeing.
We hope you are all staying safe and well during these times. Now, more than ever, health and social research will be essential to understanding and shaping the economic and societal recovery as we emerge...
Read MoreDue to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the secure research room in Colby House has now closed until further notice. We thank you for your patience and understanding and will endeavour to keep you updated with...
Read MoreIn January 2020, 85 delegates from local and central government, the voluntary, community and enterprise sector, academia and other interest groups attended the NILS collaborative symposium, Data-Driven Society: People, Places and Policy in Belfast City...
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