4.5 Expectations, Attitudes, Behaviors & Time Use

• 4.5.1 Alcohol Use
• 4.5.2 Attitudes
• 4.5.3 Autonomy & Parental Control
• 4.5.4 Cigarette Use
• 4.5.5 Crime, Delinquency & Arrest
• 4.5.6 Drug Use
• 4.5.7 Expectations
• 4.5.8 Sexual Activity & Dating
• 4.5.9 Time Use

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Information in this section of the guide focuses on behavioral factors, such as the respondent's current outlook, perceptions of the future, and interactions with his or her parents.  In the self-administered section of the Youth Questionnaire, a computer-assisted self-interview collects sensitive data that reflects anti-social behavior (e.g., substance use, delinquency, criminal activity), as well as details about attitudes and dating or sexual activity.  Rounding out this section are data on respondents' typical weekly activities.

Table 1 summarizes the NLSY97 User's Guide subtopics available in this section and any global universe restrictions affecting those subtopics.  Users should note that certain questions or groups of questions within a subtopic may have additional restrictions.  Please consult the NLSY97 questionnaire and codebook for more information on particular questions.

4.5 Table 1. Expectations, Attitudes, Behaviors & Time Use Subtopics and Universe Restrictions

Created Variables.  In addition to the variables created by CHRR, Child Trends, Inc., an organization involved in the NLSY97 questionnaire design process, has created a number of scales and indexes from several groups of variables described in this section.  These scales and indexes are intended to aid researchers in using the various data items relating to attitudes and behaviors.  These variables are described in the following sections:

• Alcohol Use

• Attitudes

• Autonomy & Parental Control

• Cigarette Use

• Crime, Delinquency & Arrest

• Drug Use

• Sexual Activity & Dating

Although these Child Trends created variables are described only briefly in this guide, interested researchers may obtain a detailed discussion of the creation procedures from NLS User Services.  This document, Appendix 9 of the NLSY97 Codebook Supplement, also summarizes statistical analyses of the scales and indexes, as well as related data items, performed by Child Trends researchers.  These variables contain the prefix "FP_" in their question names (FP stands for Family Process Measures). 

4.5.1 Alcohol Use

The focus of the alcohol use section is the frequency of beverage consumption in a recent period.  An alcoholic beverage is defined as a can or bottle of beer, a glass of wine, a mixed drink, or a shot of liquor.  The respondent is instructed not to include any "childhood sips that you might have had from an older person's drink."

The round 1 survey first established whether the respondent had ever consumed an alcoholic beverage and asked for the respondent's age the first time.  Respondents who answer don't know, or who refuse to answer this retrospective question, continue to receive the question in later rounds until a valid answer is given.  If a respondent answers affirmatively to having ever consumed alcohol, but cannot or will not provide the age at which they first drank, they continue to receive the age question in subsequent rounds.  In subsequent rounds, respondents who have previously provided a valid answer to the question about having ever consumed an alcoholic beverage were asked whether they had a drink of an alcoholic beverage since the date of last interview.  Respondents who had consumed alcohol were asked a series of follow-up questions in these rounds about the quantity and frequency of alcohol use in the 30 days prior to the interview.  Specific questions included the number of days the respondent had one or more alcoholic beverage(s), how many drinks he or she usually had per day, and the number of days the respondent had five or more drinks on the same occasion.  In all rounds, the survey also elicits information on the number of days (in the 30 days prior to the interview) that the respondent had something alcoholic to drink right before or during school or work.

Additional round 1 and round 6 questions gathered information on the respondent's perception of the effects of alcohol on various health conditions.  Users can find a description of these questions in section 4.7, "Health."

Created Variables.  In rounds 1-4, the response to the "ever drank alcohol" question was used as part of the Substance Use Index (FP_YYSUBSI) created by Child Trends, Inc.; see the Codebook Supplement Appendix 9, available from NLS User Services, for more information and statistical analysis.

4.5.1 Table 1. Age Respondent First Drank Alcohol

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  NLSY79 respondents have provided information about the quantity and frequency of their alcohol consumption in the 1982-85, 1988-89, 1992, 1994, and 2002 surveys; the Children of the NLSY79 age 10 and older (including the Young Adults) responded to similar questions in 1988-2004.  The 1989 and 1995-2003 interviews of the Mature Women, the 1991-2003 surveys of the Young Women, and the 1990 survey of Older Men also gathered data on the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption.  For more information, refer to the appropriate cohort's User's Guide.

Survey Instruments:  Questions on alcohol use are found in the self-administered section of the Youth Questionnaire.  Question names begin with YSAQ in rounds 1-5; in rounds 6-9, these questions are in the YSAQ2 section.

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4.5.2 Attitudes

This section describes respondents' attitudes toward the justice system, parents, peers, school, self, and respondents' domains of influence.  The NLSY97 Youth Questionnaire periodically collects information about the respondents' attitudes toward the justice system and toward their parents.  The round 1 Youth Questionnaire also asked about respondents' attitudes toward school and perceptions of their peers and themselves.  In some cases, the round 1 Parent Questionnaire asked similar questions of the responding parent.  Finally, rounds 7 and 9 featured a "domains of influence" section, which asked respondents about whom they turned to for advice.

Justice System

In the self-administered section of the round 1-5 surveys, a series of questions focused on the respondent's beliefs about the criminal justice system.  The survey first queried respondents about their perceived odds of being arrested if they stole a car.  Supposing that he or she had in fact been arrested for stealing a car, the respondent was then asked to report his or her perceived odds of being released without charges, being released with only a fine, and serving time in jail.

Parents

The NLSY97 obtains a great amount of detail about the respondent's relationship with his or her parents in each interview.  Complementary information was gathered from the responding parent in round 1.  This section also collects information about the relationship the respondent's parents have with each other.  Users should note that "parent" in these descriptions generally refers to the respondent's parent or parent-figure and not only to biological parents; exceptions are clearly stated.

The universes of respondents who answered these questions and the parents to whom the questions referred changed after round 1. 

Contact with absent parent.  In round 1, the survey first determined the specific month and year that the NLSY97 respondent last lived with any absent biological mother or father or adoptive mother or father.  Each round established whether the most recent contact with that parent was within a month, a week, or a day.  A number of questions then focused on the respondent's contact with the absent parent during the past 12 months (round 1) or since the last interview in subsequent rounds. For each of these absent parents, the respondent is asked the following questions:

• Number of times youth contacted or tried to contact absent parent by mail or phone

• Number of times youth received a card, letter, or phone call from absent parent

• Number of times youth visited absent parent without spending the night

• Number of times youth stayed overnight at the absent parent's home

Starting in round 5, questions about contact with each absent parent were designed to be more suitable for older respondents.  In round 5, the two youngest cohorts received the original set of questions, but the three oldest cohorts received a new question set that pertained to absent bioparents and absent parent figures.  In round 6, only the youngest cohort received the original series; the four oldest cohorts all received the newer questions.  In round 7, the original questions were completely phased out.

Parent's supportiveness and permissiveness.  This series first asked whether the respondent feels that each parent is supportive of him or her.  A second question gathered information on whether the parent is permissive or strict about making sure the respondent did what he or she was supposed to do.  Cohorts vary per survey year.  No questions in this category were asked in rounds 5 or 9.

Respondent's opinion of parent.  For a group of younger respondents, additional data are collected on the respondent's opinion of each parent.  Respondents state whether they think highly of the parent, want to be like him or her, and enjoy spending time with him or her.  This series was not included in rounds 4 or 6.  The question format changed in round 5:  those respondents born in 1983 and 1984 were asked the original set of questions, while the three oldest birth cohorts received the new set of questions.  In rounds 7 and 8, all respondents received the new set of questions.  The questions were not asked in round 9.

Parent's knowledge and behavior toward respondent.  In rounds 1-3, information about the parent's behavior toward the respondent, collected from a group of younger respondents, included how often the parent did each of the following:

• Praised the respondent for doing well

• Criticized the respondent or the respondent's ideas

• Helped the respondent to do things important to the respondent

• Blamed the respondent for his or her problems

• Made plans with the respondent and cancels for no good reason

In addition, the survey gathered data on the respondent's opinion of how well his or her parent knew the respondent's close friends, the parents of the respondent's close friends, the people the respondent is with when not at home, and the respondent's teachers/school activities.  Specific questions in this series varied among survey years.  The questions were discontinued after round 3.

Parent relationship behaviors.  These questions ask about the frequency with which each parent displays the following behaviors:

• Blames his or her partner for problems

• Criticizes his or her partner or the partner's ideas

• Encourages his or her partner to do things that the partner considers important

• Expresses affection or love for his or her partner

• Is fair and willing to compromise when they disagree

• Screams and yells at his or her partner when angry

This series was included in rounds 1-3 and in rounds 5-6.

Contact between respondent's biological parents.  These questions determined the frequency of contact between the respondent's biological parents and the level of friendliness or hostility in their relationship.  This series was included in rounds 1-3 and round 6.

Several question series about the respondent's parents were added in round 5 for older respondents born in 1980-82 and in round 6 for older respondents born in 1980-83.  The first questioned how often the respondent asked his or her parent for advice or help on education/training/job decisions and on friendships or close personal relationships.  Another series asked about the parent's knowledge concerning the respondent's goals and aspirations in life, values and spiritual beliefs, friends, and what the respondent is really like as person.  In addition, these respondents were asked how often their family gathers to celebrate family events like birthdays, holidays, weddings, etc.  A follow-up question asked the respondent to rate the importance of attending these events to him or her.

Parent Questionnaire (round 1).  The NLSY97 also asked two of these series of questions in the parent survey.  First, if the youth was born in 1982, 1983, or 1984, the responding parent described the frequency with which his or her spouse or partner displayed the parent relationship behaviors listed above.  If the responding parent was one of the youth's biological parents and the other biological parent did not reside in the household, the responding parent answered a second set of questions about the frequency of contact with the other parent and the friendliness or hostility of their relationship.

Created Variables.  Child Trends, Inc. has created a number of scales based on the variables described in this section.  The following are available:

1. Parents' Marital Relationship-Youth Report (FP_YMFRELAT, FP_YFMRELAT); rounds 1-3.  One scale summarizes the residential mother's relationship with the residential father; the other describes the father's relationship with the mother.
2. Parents' Marital Relationship-Parent Report (FP_PPRELAT); round 1 only.  This scale uses the set of comparable parent questions on relationship quality to measure the responding parent's perception of the relationship with his or her spouse.
3. Parent-Youth Relationship-Youth Report (FP_YMSUPP and FP_YFSUPP in rounds 1-3; FP_YNRMSUPP and FP_YNRFSUPP in round 1 only).  This set of scales indicates the quality of the youth's relationship with each of the parents referred to in the questionnaire.
4. Parenting Styles-Youth Report (FP_YMPSTYL, FP_YFPSTYL, FP_YNRMPSTYL, FP_YNRFPSTYL); rounds 1-4.  Based on the supportiveness/permissiveness questions, this set of scales describes the parenting styles of the parents/parent-figures referred to in the questionnaire.
5. Parental Monitoring-Youth Report (FP_YMMONIT and FP_YFMONIT in rounds 1-4; FP_YNRMMONIT and FP_YNRFMONIT in round 1 only).  This set of scales describes the awareness of the youth's activities for up to four parents/parent-figures.

Interested researchers should consult Codebook Supplement Appendix 9, available from NLS User Services, for more information on the above scales.  In addition, this appendix describes statistical analyses performed by Child Trends on the scales and on four related groups of round 1 variables:  (1) the contact between the youth respondent's separated biological parents as reported by the youth; (2) the similar contact questions answered by the responding parent; (3) the sources of personal/emotional support question addressed to youth respondents; and (4) the supportive/permissive questions asked of all youth respondents.

Peers

Youth Questionnaire. A series of questions in the round 1 survey asked respondents about their perception of their peers' activities and behaviors.  Respondents who were enrolled at the time of the survey were asked to estimate the percentage of peers in their grade involved in the activities listed below; respondents who were not enrolled were asked the same questions about the percentage of peers in their grade when last enrolled.

• Belong to a gang that participates in illegal activities

• Cut classes or skip school

• Do volunteer work

• Ever use marijuana, inhalants, or other drugs

• Get drunk at least once per month

• Go to church or religious services on a regular basis

• Participate in organized sports, clubs, or school activities

• Plan to go to college

• Smoke cigarettes

Respondents who were age 15 or older were also asked to state the percentage of their peers they believed to have ever had sexual intercourse.

School

Youth Questionnaire. The round 1 NLSY97 survey attempted to ascertain the impact that school has had on the feelings of well-being experienced by various youths.  To this end, respondents who were enrolled at the time of the survey were asked to agree or disagree with the following statements regarding their school's environment and their teachers:

• Discipline is fair

• Disruptions by other students get in the way of my learning

• I feel safe at this school

• Students are fairly graded

• Teachers are good

• Teachers are interested in the students

• There is a lot of cheating on tests and assignments

Self

Youth Questionnaire.  In round 1, a series of questions designed to elicit information on the respondent's attitude about him- or herself was asked of respondents born in 1982, 1983, and 1984.  These respondents were asked whether they strongly disagreed, disagreed, agreed, or strongly agreed with the following statements: 

• I hardly ever expect things to go my way

• I rarely count on good things happening to me

• I'm always optimistic about my future

• In uncertain times, I usually expect the best

The round 1 NLSY97 survey asked the same youths questions similar to those found in Achenbach's Youth Self Report.  For each behavior, respondents were asked how well the statement described them over the past six months (not true, somewhat or sometimes true, or often true).  The questions asked of male and female respondents are listed in Figure 1.

4.5.2 Figure 1. Youth Descriptors of Attitude toward Self

Rounds 4, 6, and 8 included a series that addressed respondents' mental health.  The self-administered questions asked how often they felt the following ways during the last month before the interview:  very nervous, calm and peaceful, downhearted and blue, happy, or so down in the dumps that nothing could cheer them up.  Respondents answered all, most, some, or none of the time for each feeling. These questions correspond to the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5), a well-being scale developed by Veit and Ware in 1983.

Parent Questionnaire (round 1).  Parents were also asked a set of questions similar to Achenbach's Youth Self Report.  For each NLSY97 youth born in 1983 or 1984, the responding parent was asked how well each statement described the youth's behavior in the past six months. 

Created Variables.  Child Trends, Inc., created the following scales based on the Achenbach questions in the round 1 youth and parent questionnaires:

1. Behavioral and Emotional Problems Scales-Youth Report (FP_YYFBEHS, FP_YYMBEHS).  This pair of scales, one for male and one for female respondents, summarizes the data collected by the Achenbach Youth Self-Report variables described above.

2. Behavioral and Emotional Problems Scales-Parent Report (FP_PYFBEHS, FP_PYMBEHS).  Based on the comparable Achenbach questions in the parent survey, this pair of scales measures behavioral and emotional problems separately for male and female youths.

Child Trends, Inc., also created a mental health scale (FP_YMNTHLTH) based on the round 4 series described above.  This scale summarizes the responses into a score indicating whether the respondent has positive mental health or has emotional problems.

Codebook Supplement Appendix 9, available from NLS User Services, provides interested researchers with more information.  In addition to describing the creation procedures for these scales, the appendix summarizes statistical analyses performed by Child Trends on these variables.

Domains of Influence

All respondents in round 7 and 9 answered a series of questions about the people to whom respondents could turn for advice on the following issues: friendships or personal relationships; employment, education, and training; and finances.  Respondents gave the total number of people they could ask for advice and the first person to which they would turn (e.g., biological mother, boyfriend/girlfriend, clergy).

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  The Children of the NLSY79 age 10 and older (including the Young Adults) have answered questions about their attitudes toward their school and themselves, about their relationship with their parents, and about their parents' relationship with each other.  Users should note, however, that the wording of these questions is not identical to the NLSY97.  For more information, consult the NLSY79 Child & Young Adult User's Guide.

Survey Instruments:  Questions from the Youth Questionnaire are found in the self-administered (question names begin with YSAQ), peers (YPRS), and schooling (YSCH) sections in round 1 and the self-administered section (YSAQ) in rounds 2, 3, and 4.  In the round 1 Parent Questionnaire, these questions are found in sections P6 and PC12.

Reference

Achenbach, T. M. Manual for the Youth Self-Report and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, 1991.

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4.5.3 Autonomy & Parental Control

Both the NLSY97 respondents and their responding parents have been asked about the level of autonomy or parental control that determines the rules, if any, regarding the youth's activities.  These questions allow for an opportunity to compare the respondents' and their parent's perceptions about rule setting and discipline.

Youth Questionnaire.  In rounds 1-5, respondents born in 1983 or 1984 were questioned about the person or persons who make decisions concerning their activities, including how late they may stay out at night, the kinds of TV shows or movies they may watch, and who they are allowed to "hang out" with.  For each rule that is reportedly made only by the respondent's parents or jointly by the parents and the respondent, a follow-up question asked about the number of times the respondent broke the rules in the last 30 days.  Information was also collected on what action the parent(s) would take if they found out that the respondent had violated the rules, as well as which person would be most likely to handle a rule violation.

Parent Questionnaire (round 1).  Responding parents of youths born in 1983 or 1984 were asked a set of autonomy and control questions similar to those found in the Youth Questionnaire, allowing comparison of youth and parent perceptions.  For each rule detailed above, the responding parent was first surveyed on who makes that particular rule.  Follow-up questions asked about the number of times the youth broke the rules in the last 30 days if the rule was made only by the parent or jointly by the parent and the youth.  The responding parent was also asked to state the person who would most likely handle a rule violation.

Created Variables.  Child Trends, Inc., has created several indexes based on the variables described in this section.  The following are available:

1. Control/Autonomy Limit-Setting-Youth Report (FP_YHLIMITS); rounds 1-3.  This index is based on the questions asking who sets the limits on three different kinds of activities.  The index indicates the youth's perception of the amount of control the parent exerts in setting limits.

2. Control/Autonomy Limit-Setting-Parent Report (FP_PHLIMITS); round 1 only.  This comparable index uses the same questions asked of the responding parent to indicate the parent's perception of the amount of control exerted.

3. Control/Autonomy Limit-Breaking-Youth Report (FP_YHBROKED); rounds 1-3.  This index indicates whether the youth reported breaking any of the limits in the past 30 days.

4. Control/Autonomy Limit-Breaking-Parent Report (FP_PHBROKED); round 1 only.  This comparable index reports whether the responding parent stated that the youth broke any limits in the past 30 days.

Interested users should consult Codebook Supplement Appendix 9, available from NLS User Services, for details on the above indexes.  In addition, this appendix describes statistical analyses performed by Child Trends on these indexes and on several related variables:  (1) who handles a limit violation, as reported by the youth; (2) who handles a violation, according to the parent; and (3) the youth's report of the consequences expected if a limit is broken.

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  The Children of the NLSY79 age 10-14 have provided information about who makes rules regarding their behavior, although not about the consequences of violating the rules.  For more information, consult the NLSY79 Child & Young Adult User's Guide.

Survey Instruments:  Questions on autonomy and control are found in the self-administered section (question names begin with YSAQ) of the Youth Questionnaire.  In the round 1 Parent Questionnaire, this information was collected in section PC12.

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4.5.4 Cigarette Use

In round 1, all respondents were first asked whether they had ever smoked an entire cigarette; if so, they reported their age at that time.  Respondents who answer don't know, or who refuse to answer this retrospective question, continue to receive the question in later rounds until a valid answer is given.  If a respondent answers affirmatively to having ever smoked a cigarette, but cannot or will not provide the age at which they first smoked, they continue to receive the age question in subsequent rounds.

In rounds 2 and up, respondents who have previously provided a valid answer to the question about having ever smoked a cigarette were asked whether they had smoked a cigarette since the date of last interview.  Additional data were then collected in each round on the number of days they smoked during the 30 days prior to the interview.  Finally, the respondents were questioned about the number of cigarettes they usually had on the days they smoked during those 30 days.

4.5.4 Table 1. Age Respondent First Smoked a Cigarette

In addition, information was collected in round 1 and round 6 regarding the respondent's perception of the effects of smoking on various health conditions; details can be found in section 4.7, "Health."

Created Variables.  In rounds 1 and 2, Child Trends, Inc. used questions that asked respondents if they ever smoked a cigarette as part of the Substance Use Index(FP_YYSUBSI).  In rounds 2-4, Child Trends, Inc. used questions that asked respondents if they smoked since the date of their last interview as part of the index(FP_YYSUBSI_DLI).  See Codebook Supplement Appendix 9, available from NLS User Services, for more information and statistical analysis.

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  The 1984, 1992, 1994, and 1998 surveys of the NLSY79 included questions on the quantity and frequency of cigarette use.  Children of the NLSY79 age 10 and older (including the Young Adults) have provided this information in the 1988-2004 surveys.  Detailed information on cigarette use was gathered from the Mature Women in 1989 and from the Young Women in 1991 and 1993; these respondents also stated whether they currently smoked in 1995-2001.  Older Men provided retrospective smoking data in 1990.  Consult the appropriate cohort's User's Guide for further details.

Survey Instruments:  Questions on cigarette use are found in the self-administered section (question names begin with YSAQ) of the Youth Questionnaire. 

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4.5.5 Crime, Delinquency & Arrest

The NLSY97 survey questions on crime, delinquency, and arrest can be divided into two areas:  questions about active participation and questions about perceptions of personal safety and other antecedents to delinquent behavior.  This section focuses on the youth's participation in delinquent and criminal behaviors; other details can be found in section 4.6.4, "Household & Neighborhood Environment."  The following information on delinquency, crime, and arrest is collected in the self-administered section of the youth instrument. 

Within the criminal justice system, "delinquent" behavior is usually differentiated from "criminal" behavior on the basis of an offender's age.  For example, a 12-year-old who has damaged property would likely be charged with a delinquent offense; an older youth might be charged with either a delinquent or criminal offense at the discretion of the judge.  Since an offense is only classified as criminal or delinquent if the offender actually appears in court, a different distinction is made for the purposes of this discussion.  The descriptions of delinquency in this section include behaviors, such as running away from home, which are unlawful for minors but not necessarily for those ages 18 and older.  The discussions of crime and arrest in this section describe the questions on behaviors that are considered criminal activity for adults, even though a respondent who has committed one of these offenses may have actually been charged as a juvenile rather than an adult.

Delinquency

The first set of delinquency questions addresses the respondent's history of running away from home and staying away at least overnight.  Data include the age when this first occurred, the total number of times the respondent has ever run away, and the total number of times he or she has run away since the date of last interview.  After round 1, youths who were age 17 or older at the date of last interview or who were not living with any parents were skipped past the runaway questions. Questions about running away from home were discontinued after round 6.

Next, the respondents answer a series of questions on whether they have ever carried a handgun, defined as any firearm other than a rifle or a shotgun, and if they have carried one since the last interview (starting in round 2).  The series continues by asking their age the first time they did so, the number of days out of the past 30 that they carried the gun, and whether they carried the gun to school during this period.

In a separate set of questions, respondents are surveyed on their involvement in gang activity.  Those who belonged to a gang are asked to state the age when they joined the gang and their membership status in the previous 12 months (round 1) or since the date of the last interview (subsequent rounds).  Those who did not belong to a gang during that time period state their age when they last belonged to a gang.  Additional information on gang activity in the respondent's extended family, school, and neighborhood is found in sections 4.6.4, "Household & Neighborhood Environment," and 4.5.2, "Attitudes."

Crime

The survey asks about participation in and the intensity of various criminal activities in the previous year (round 1) or since the date of last interview (subsequent rounds).  The types of criminal activities included are:

• Purposely damaged or destroyed property not belonging to the respondent

• Stole something worth less than $50

• Stole something worth $50 or more (including a car)

• Other property crimes, including fencing stolen property, possessing or receiving stolen property, or selling something for more than it was worth

• Attacked or assaulted someone

• Sold or helped to sell marijuana, hashish, or other hard drugs

 Youths who stole something state whether they stole from a store, snatched someone's purse/wallet or picked someone's pocket, went into a locked building to steal something, or used a weapon during the act.  Additionally, respondents who report stealing something worth $50 or more are asked if they stole a car.

In round 1, follow-up questions about a particular activity (except stealing something worth less than $50) determined the respondent's age the first time and the number of times he or she participated in the past 12 months.  Respondents who reported no involvement during the previous 12 months were asked to state their age when they last participated in that criminal activity.  If the respondent committed other property crimes, sold or helped to sell drugs, or stole something worth $50 or more, he or she was asked about any monetary rewards in 1996--the total cash received or the total cash he or she would have received--from selling these items.  Respondents who reported having sold or helped to sell drugs stated whether they were involved in selling marijuana or hashish, other hard drugs, or both, as well as the amount of income received from these sales. 

Reference periods and question details shifted in round 2.  In this survey, respondents were questioned about the number of times they participated in each activity since the date of last interview.  However, respondents who answered "don't know" or "refused" in round 1 were again asked about criminal activities in which they had ever participated.  Those who stole something (worth more or less than $50) or participated in the other property crimes listed above were asked for the amount of any monetary rewards in the previous calendar year--the total cash received or the total cash he or she would have received--from selling these items.  Respondents who reported selling or helping to sell drugs distinguished whether they were involved in selling marijuana or hashish, other hard drugs, or both, and listed the amount of income received from these activities.  Subsequent rounds followed the same pattern as round 2.  Beginning in round 8, the crime questions were asked only of respondents who had ever reported being arrested and also a control group for comparison.

Arrests

NLSY97 youth respondents are asked whether they have ever been arrested by the police or taken into custody for an illegal or delinquent offense (not including arrests for minor traffic violations) and the total number of times this has happened.  Round 1 then collected information on the number of arrests before the respondent's 12^th birthday and the respondent's age at the first arrest.  Further data were gathered on the respondent's most recent and first arrests.  (If the respondent reported only one arrest, this information was collected as the respondent's most recent arrest; the first arrest data fields contain missing values.)  Rounds 2 through the current round gathered the number of arrests since the last interview, including the month and year of the first arrest if it occurred during that time. Note: for rounds 2-4, the design of the arrest loop collected information only on arrests since the date of last interview. If a respondent had just been arrested but had not yet been charged/convicted/sentenced prior to the interview, there was no effort during these rounds to collect this information in the next interview. Beginning in round 5, questions were asked about pending outcomes of arrests from the prior round in order to determine their final outcome regarding any charges, convictions, and sentences.

For the first and most recent arrests (round 1) or a continuous loop of all arrests (subsequent rounds), the respondent provides the month and year of the arrest and states whether the police charged him or her with an offense.  A series of questions then determines the type of offenses with which the respondent was charged; he or she could enumerate multiple charges.  The list of possible arrest charges includes assault, burglary, destruction of property, possession or use of illicit drugs, sale or trafficking of illicit drugs, a major traffic offense, and a public order offense. 

For each offense with which they have been charged, respondents report whether they were convicted for or pled guilty to that offense.  A follow-up question distinguishes whether the respondent went to juvenile court, adult court, both, or neither as a result of the charges.  Respondents then describe the sentence.  For those sentenced to jail, an adult corrections institution, a juvenile corrections institution, or a reform/training school, the surveys record the month and year they began their sentence and the month and year their sentence ended (if appropriate).  Similar questions ask about the month and year community service or probation began and ended.  If the respondent did not go to court, was not convicted of, and did not plead guilty to any charges, he or she states the arrest outcome:  no further action, pre-court diversion program/counseling, appearance before a judge with no further action, or other.

Finally, a description of the questions on the attitudes of the respondent toward justice is found in section 4.5.2, "Attitudes"; the use of drugs by the respondent is described in section 4.5.6, "Drug Use"; and descriptions of survey questions on the safety of the respondent's household environment are found in section 4.6.4, "Household & Neighborhood Environment."

Created Variables.  In rounds 1 and 2, Child Trends, Inc. used questions that asked respondents if they ever participated in various criminal/delinquent activities as part of the Delinquency Index(FP_YYCRIMI).  In rounds 2-4, Child Trends, Inc. used questions that asked respondents if they participated in various criminal/delinquent activities since the date of their last interview (FP_YYCRIMI_DLI) as part of the index. See Codebook Supplement Appendix 9, available from NLS User Services, for more information and statistical analysis.

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  Information on crime, delinquency, and arrest records was collected from the NLSY79 in a special self-report supplement during the 1980 interview.  This supplement detailed respondents' participation in and income from criminal activities and their contacts with the criminal justice system.  The 1988-2004 surveys of the Children of the NLSY79 asked those age 10 and older (including the Young Adults) to report on participation in various illegal activities.  For more information, consult the NLSY79 Child & Young Adult User's Guide.

Survey Instruments:  Questions on crime, delinquency, and arrest are found in the self-administered section (question names begin with YSAQ) of the Youth Questionnaire.

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4.5.6 Drug Use

In this section, all respondents are surveyed on their experience with marijuana, which is also referred to in the survey as "grass" or "pot."  In round 1, respondents were first asked whether they had ever used marijuana; if so, they reported the age at which they first used the drug.  Respondents who answer don't know, or who refuse to answer this retrospective question, continue to receive the question in later rounds until a valid answer is given.  If a respondent answers affirmatively to having ever used marijuana, but cannot or will not provide the age at which they first used it, they continue to receive the age question in subsequent rounds. Beginning in round 2, respondents who have previously provided a valid answer to the question about having ever used marijuana were asked whether they had used marijuana since the last interview, even if only once.  Each survey then collected additional information on the number of days the respondent smoked marijuana in the 30 days prior to the interview.  Finally, questions determined the number of times the respondent used marijuana right before or during school or work in those 30 days.

4.5.6 Table 1. Age Respondent First Used Marijuana

The drug use questions in rounds 2-9 were more extensive than those in round 1.  In addition to the series on marijuana use, the questionnaire asked about the use of any drugs such as cocaine, crack, heroin, or any other substance not prescribed by a doctor in order to get high or to achieve an altered state.  Details collected include the respondent's age when he or she first used any of these drugs and the number of times since the last interview that the respondent took some drug or other substance.  The number of times in the last 30 days that the respondent used a drug or other substance right before school or during school or work hours was also gathered.  Additional questions on whether the respondent ever sold drugs are described in section 4.5.5, "Crime, Delinquency & Arrest."

4.5.6 Table 2. Age Respondent First Used Cocaine/Other Drugs

Created Variables.  In rounds 1 and 2, Child Trends, Inc. used questions that asked respondents if they ever smoked marijuana (FP_YYSUBSI) as part of the Substance Use Index.  In rounds 2-4, Child Trends, Inc. used questions that asked respondents if they smoked marijuana since the date of their last interview (FP_YYSUBSI_DLI) as part of the index.  See Codebook Supplement Appendix 9, available from NLS User Services, for more information and statistical analysis.

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  The NLSY79 first included drug use questions in 1980, when respondents stated the number of times they had ever smoked marijuana or used other drugs.  In 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, and 1998, NLSY79 respondents reported their age at first use, lifetime use, and frequency of use in the past 30 days.  Children of the NLSY79 age 10 and older (including the Young Adults) have been asked about their use of various drugs in the past 3 months since the 1988 survey.  For more information, refer to the NLSY79 Child & Young Adult User's Guide.

Survey Instruments:  All the questions on drug use are found in the self-administered section (question names begin with YSAQ) of the Youth Questionnaire.

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4.5.7 Expectations

Both the NLSY97 respondents and their responding parents have been asked to state their beliefs about events that may occur in the youth's future.  Since these questions were asked of both groups, researchers may be able to compare differences in their perceptions. 

Youth Questionnaire.  In round 1, respondents who were born in 1980 or 1981 were surveyed on their beliefs about the future.  To assess the probability that certain events would occur in a given time period, the respondents were instructed to use a scale from 0 (impossible) to 100 (certain). 

Expectations questions were included again in the round 4 survey.  In this round, all respondents were asked to answer a similar series of questions.  Table 1 lists the events and the time periods included in each round. 

In round 5, respondents were randomly divided into four experimental groups of roughly equal size that were used to study response rate for this type of question.  Instead of answering expectations questions in a single section (as in previous rounds), they encountered them separately in each appropriate topical section.  Expectations about education were asked in the schooling section, expectations about pregnancy were asked in the fertility part of the self-administered section, etc.  The variable SYMBOL!TXGROUP indicates the experimental group to which each respondent was assigned.  A non-experimental group of respondents skipped these questions in the topical sections and instead were guided through the expectations section as in previous rounds. 

In round 6, respondents born in 1980 were only asked to assess the probability that they would die in the next year (reference S12512.) and the probability that they would die in the next 5 years (reference S12513.).

Parent Questionnaire (round 1).  Responding parents of youths born in 1980 or 1981 were asked to assess the probability that certain events, described in Table 1, would occur in the life of the youth within a specified time period.

4.5.7 Table 1. Topics of Expectations Questions

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  Respondents in the NLSY79, Children of the NLSY79, Young Women, and Young Men have all answered questions about their educational and employment expectations for the future; however, the specific questions and reference periods have varied widely.  Users should consult the appropriate cohort's User's Guide for details.

Survey Instruments:  These questions are found in the expectations section (question names begin with YEXP) of the Youth Questionnaire and section PC11 of the round 1 Parent Questionnaire.

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4.5.8 Sexual Activity & Dating

Dating

In the self-administered section of the youth instrument, all respondents are asked whether they have ever been on a date or unsupervised social outing with a member of the opposite sex.  Those who have are questioned on their age the first time they went on a date.  Other questions include how often the respondent dated and the number of different people he or she went out with on a date in the past year (round 1) or since the last interview (subsequent rounds).

Beginning in round 6, the instrument expands to gather more detailed information on dating patterns and relationships, and habitation status (e.g., cohabiting, married, etc.). For the most recent romantic partner of the respondent, the questionnaire obtained his/her initials, race, gender, whether he or she was of Hispanic or Latino origin, and educational attainment.  The questions were aimed at both heterosexual and homosexual respondents.

Intercourse and Pregnancy

In rounds 1 and 2, data on sexual activity were obtained from respondents who were at least 14 years old; all respondents were eligible in later rounds.  These respondents are first asked if they have ever had sexual intercourse and if they have had intercourse since the last interview (in rounds 2-9). If a respondent reports ever having sexual intercourse, questions are asked about the first experience (e.g., the respondent's age, whether the respondent and the partner used birth control).  Those who report not using any method of birth control are questioned on whether they wanted a pregnancy at that time.  Rounds 2-9 also included a question that specifically asked whether respondents used a condom that first time.  Additional information is collected about the respondent's total number of partners and the number of partners in the previous year (round 1) or since the last interview (subsequent rounds).  Complementing information on the number of times that the respondent had sexual intercourse in the past 12 months (round 1) or since the last interview (subsequent rounds), the surveys gather the frequency of his or her birth control use during that same period.  Rounds 2-9 also asked specifically about the frequency of condom use.  Finally, these respondents state the method of birth control used most often.

Additional questions were included in the rounds 4-9 surveys concerning the respondent's first sexual experience.  These questions asked for the month and year this experience occurred; the age of the respondent's partner at that time; the location where it occurred (e.g., family's home, partner's home, hotel); the time of day; the status of the relationship at that time (e.g., dating, living together, engaged); the ethnicity and race of the partner; whether they discussed birth control before that point; and, if they used birth control, the methods they used that first time.

The same respondents eligible for questions on sexual activity also answer questions on pregnancies in the self-administered section.  This information on the respondent's pregnancies, including those that ended in miscarriage or abortion, is described in section 4.9.2.  Additionally, information on the respondent's knowledge about pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases is found in section 4.7, "Health."

4.5.8 Table 1. Age Respondent First Had Sex

Created Variables.  Child Trends, Inc., created these three variables for the round 4 data: if respondents had ever had sex by the round 4 interview (FP_SEXEVER), their age at first sex (FP_SEXAGE), and the round they first reported having had sex (FP_SEXYEAR).  All are included in the main file data set; see the Codebook Supplement Appendix 9, available from NLS User Services, for more information and statistical analysis.

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  Information on sexual activity was gathered from NLSY79 respondents in the 1983-85 surveys; data on contraception have been regularly collected since 1982.  NLSY79 Children age 13 and older have reported on their sexual activity beginning in 1988.  Children age 15 and older have also provided information on contraceptive use since 1994.  For further details, consult the NLSY79 Child & Young Adult User's Guide.

Survey Instruments:  Questions on dating and sexual activity are found in the self-administered section (question names begin with YSAQ) of the Youth Questionnaire.

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4.5.9 Time Use

In the round 1 series of questions on time use, respondents born in 1982, 1983, or 1984 assessed the amount of time in a typical week that they spent doing homework (if enrolled), taking extra classes or lessons, watching TV, and reading for pleasure.  Youths born in 1980 who were not enrolled or employed were asked about the time they usually woke up, whether they went to any place on a regular basis, and the times that they left for and returned from that place.

In rounds 2 and 3, the time use series was addressed to respondents born in 1980 or 1981 who were not enrolled or employed.  They were asked for the usual times that they got up, left their home, arrived home, and went to sleep on a typical weekday.  Then the survey collected the main activities these respondents participated in and/or the places they went between waking and sleeping, as well as the number of hours spent at these places during a typical weekday.  In the final question in this section, respondents reported the main activities or places where they spent time during the week before the survey. 

Respondents were not asked time use questions in rounds 4 or 5.  In round 6, three questions (S12254, S12255, and S12256) were asked to all respondents as part of a longer healthy behaviors series of questions in the health set. No time use questions were asked after round 6.

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys:  In 1981, NLSY79 respondents provided detailed data on their use of time in the past seven days.  This section recorded time spent working, attending school or training programs, sleeping, watching TV, caring for children, and completing household chores.  For more information, refer to the NLSY79 User's Guide.

Survey Instruments:  These questions are found in the time use section (question names begin with YTIM) of the Youth Questionnaire.

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