Asterisk Table | National Longitudinal Survey of Youth | 1997

This page presents tables summarizing selected topics and variables from the NLSY97 surveys. (Use the drop-down menu to select topics of interest.) The tables list individual items or groups of related items, with columns indicating the survey round in which the item(s) are available. Both survey questions and created variables are included. "R" used in variable descriptions stands for "respondent." "Y" used in variable descriptions stands for "youth." Users are encouraged to consult the questionnaires for exact question wording in each survey round.


Table codes: The most common table code is an asterisk. This means that the variable was included in the questionnaire in the associated round. For round 1, a letter code indicates which questionnaire included a given item/set of items; Y=Youth Questionnaire, P=Parent Questionnaire, S=Screener, Household Roster, and Nonresident Roster Questionnaire. A number with the symbol ≥ or = in front of it (such as ≥15) indicates the question was asked in the questionnaire to an age-restricted subsample. In rounds 2-5, U=Household Income Update.


VI. Family Background (age restrictions as of 12/31/1996)

A. Parent history and current status

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Parent nationality P         * * * *                      
Parent birthplace/date of birth P                                      
Parent religious affiliation when growing up and currently P                                      
Reason parent did not live with both biological parents P                                      
Grandparents' birthplace                   * * * *              
Parents' # of siblings P                       * * *          
Type of community when parent was age 14 P                                      
Y's parents' parents' birth year and highest grade completed P                                      
Language spoken by parent at time of survey P                                      
Highest grade parent completed P,S                                      
Highest degree received           * * * *                      
# and duration of parents' previous marriages P                                      
Parent employment history (dates, hours per week worked) P                                      
Parents' earnings in last calendar year (in rounds 1 and 2, independent youths and youths age 14 or older as of previous calendar year) P,Y Y,U Y,U Y,U Y,U * * * * Sub-set only Sub-set only Sub-set only                
Parents' participation in and income from government program P                                      
Parent income from all other sources P U U U U                              
Value of parents' IRA or prepaid tuition accounts P                                      
Value of parents' assets P                                      
Amount of parents' debt P                                      
Parents' height and weight P                                      
Parents' longstanding health problem P                                      
Parents' (and other family members') diabetes, other health issues                         * * *          
Parents' mortality, cause of death, age at death                         * * *          
Parent's attitude toward self P=12-14                                      
Parent's attitude toward certain behaviors P=13                                      
Parent's attitude toward relationship with partner P=12-14                                      
Parents served in military yes/no                               *  *      
Parents served prison sentence yes/no                               *  *      
Parents owned business yes/no                               *  *      

B. Youth history

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Country/state of birth         * * * *   * * * * * *  *  * *    
Citizenship status         * * * *   * * * * * *  *  * *    
Age when first came to United States         * * * *   * * * * * *  *  * *    
Which parent(s) Y lives with P * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * *    
Custody arrangements P * * * * *                            
# of residential moves away from parent P           * *                        
Y has adoptive parent(s) P * * * * * * * * * * * * * *          
Is Y legally adopted, year adoption occurred P                                      
Did Y ever live with biological parent P           * * *                      
Distance from biological mother/father S                                      
Date biological mother/father died S                                      
Y ever in Head Start P                                      
Y at childcare from birth to age 5 P                                      
Y's biological father legally identified by medical test, signed legal or nonlegal document P                                      
Y # of siblings, age of oldest sibling                             *  *  * *    

C. Household environment

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Y's house conducive to studying, had computer in the past month Y≤14 ≤14 ≤14 * ≤13 * *                          
Days per week Y's family interrelates Y≤14 ≤14 ≤14 ≤14                                
Days per week Y's family completes housework Y≤14                                      
Days per week Y hears gunshots in the neighborhood Y≤14                                      
Y was victim of crime before age 12 Y                                      
Y was victim of crime between ages 12 and 18 (if not already answered) (age restrictions as of end of previous calendar year)   ≥18 ≥18 ≥18 ≥18 ≥18 ≥18                          
Specific traumatic events (past 5 years)           *         *   *      *        

D. Household information

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Relationship of other household occupants to Y S * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * * *
Relationship of nonresident relatives to Y S                                      
Household occupants' demographics (age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status) Some questions limited to parents, spouse/partner, and older children beginning in R13 S * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Household occupants' religious preference. Limited to parents, spouse/partner, and older children after R12     * * * * * *       *                
Nonresident demographics (age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status) S                                      
Current labor force status: household occupants age 16 and older S * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Employment status in 1996: nonresident spouse, biological or adoptive parent S                                      
Current or most recent occupation, weeks worked in past year: HH occupants 16 and older S                                      
Current enrollment status, highest degree and grade completed: household occupants. Limited to parents, spouse/partner, and older children beginning in R13 S * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * * *
Highest grade completed: nonresidents S                                      
Income received, all sources: household occupants 14 and older (independent youths) P,Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Type of dwelling S * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *