General Social Survey, Cycle 16: Aging and Social Support (2002): Public Use Microdata File and Documentation, 2002 - ARCHIVED

Cycle 16 of the GSS is the second cycle (after cycle 11) to collect information social support for older Canadians, introducing modules on preparations for retirement and retirement experience. The GSS is an annual telephone survey covering the non-institutionalized population in the 10 provinces. Respondents were randomly selected from a list of individuals aged 45 and over who had responded to another Statistics Canada survey. Data were collected over an 11-month period from February to December 2002. The representative sample had about 25,000 respondents. The response rate was almost 84%.

The main objective of the 2002 GSS was to provide data on the aging population. However, the survey allows detailed analysis of characteristics of family and friends who provide care to seniors; characteristics of seniors receiving formal and informal care; links to broader determinants of health (such as income, education and social networks); and people's retirement plans and experiences.