The LifE3G study
LifE is the longest-running long-term study on life courses and intergenerational relationships in the German-speaking world; it is one of the few studies of its kind worldwide that has been running for over four decades.
In the LifE study, the same approximately 2,000 women and men are surveyed again and again - for the first time in 1979 at the age of around 12, and for the eighth time in 2024 at the age of around 57. The data obtained can be used to track people's individual development; accordingly, the former study name "LifE" stands for "Life courses into early or advanced adulthood". With the 2024 survey, the title will be changed to "LifE3G - Life courses of three family generations", as the survey of the anchor generation and their children - all children will be surveyed for the first time in 2025 if possible - will provide data on three generations of the same families; the parents of the anchor generation were also surveyed in parallel with their second and third surveys (multi-actor approach). The data allows research into family influences on the younger generation, e.g. on their attitudes or professional development. Cultural influences and social change are also always taken into account.
Another unique feature of the LifE study is its multi-domain approach, according to which insights are gained into various areas of life, e.g. education and career, family relationships, partnership, cultural, religious and political orientations as well as personality and health.
The approach in the LifE study is interdisciplinary with questions from Educational Sciences, Sociology and Psychology.
The results of the LifE study play a key role in the scientific debate and have an important significance for educational action and political decisions, for example with regard to educational opportunities and equity and opportunities for participation.