NLSY79 Child and Young Adult Documentation

The NLSY79 Child & Young Adult surveys profile the development of the children of the mothers in the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth 1979 cohort (NLSY79). Data are available from 1979-2010. This documentation describes the data for 1979-2008; documentation for the 2010 survey will be released this summer.

NLSY User-Initiated Questions: We're soliciting suggestions for new questions to add to the NLSY97, NLSY79, and child/young adult surveys. Please visit the NLSY User-Initiated Questions page to learn how to make an informal suggestion or submit a formal proposal.

 

Users Guide

Child & Young Adult Data Users Guide: 1986-2008 Child Data and 1994-2008 Young Adult Data

Introduction to the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult Sample: This section describes the sample design, interview methods, and retention rates over time.

Using and Understanding Child and Young Adult Data: This section discusses the content of the survey instruments, types of variables available, sampling weights, missing data, interviewer remarks, and linking child and mother data. It also includes a detailed discussion of potential research uses and advantages of the data. Finally, a list of references used throughout this guide is included here.

Topical Guide to Child and Young Adult Data: This section presents detailed information about the variables available on a wide range of research topics (Education, Employment, Child Assessments, etc.).

Although it includes some information about all rounds of the survey, the users guide focuses on the most recent round of data collection. Past round editions of the guide are available here.

Tutorials

Intergenerational Links: NLSY79 Mothers and Their Children. This tutorial explains how to use ID variables to link data on mothers in the NLSY79 cohort and children in the NLSY79 Child/Young Adult dataset.

Survey Instruments

Documentation for each round includes copies of the questionnaires and representations of the child assessment instruments. An index to these instruments is available here.

Other Documentation

Errata and User Notes (HTML)

Child Assessments: Selected Tables

Child Survey Resources

1995 Child School Survey

Child Survey Research Reports