The GGS questionnaire is developed and maintained by a team of leading social scientists from demography, sociology and economics. The questionnaire seeks to bring together a wide range of subjects that examine the causes and consequences of family change.
The key guiding principle of the survey is the life-course approach, which is based on the idea that individuals follow various paths and take on different roles throughout their lives. The survey questions aim to gain a deep understanding of the decisions people make and the experiences they have as they navigate significant life transitions.
The questionnaire focuses on key life-course events such as leaving the parental home, forming first partnerships, becoming parents, experiencing divorce, and retiring. Its goal is not only to capture these transitions but also to integrate diverse subjects that help explain the causes and outcomes of such life events.
What information can we get from the GGS?
GENERATIONS
Information on respondent’s parents and parental home, contacts with parents, information on children (biological, adopted, fostered, and partner’s children), and contact with them, as well as contact to other family networks.
GENDER
Detailed information on respondent’s parental relationship quality, division of housework/childcare, childcare use, and experiences, attitudes on social roles of men and women.
FAMILY PLANS
Intended and unintended fertility, family formation and relationships (e.g., fertility intentions, reasons for (not) having children, reasons for separation).
LIVING CONDITIONS & WORK
Detailed information on respondent’s education, employment, housing, social networks, income and benefits, union membership, and division of paid and unpaid work in the household.
HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Subjective well-being, feeling of loneliness, health limitations, long-term health (contraceptive use, use of ART).
RECONSTRUCTING (FAMILY) BIOGRAPHIES
Dates and circumstances of pivotal life-course developments (leaving parental home, entering/leaving formal education, entering/ending partnership, having children, relationship ending).
