Religion: Preferences, Beliefs & Practices

Religion: Preferences, Beliefs & Practices

Created Variables

FP_PPRELIG. Provides the parent's religiosity, using information from the Parent Questionnaire in round 1. This variable was created by Child Trends as part of the Family Process measures. See the Codebook Supplement Appendix 9 for more information.

Questions about NLSY97 respondents' religious preferences, beliefs, and practices are asked in select survey years. Religion variables about spouse/partners and other household members are also available.

Religious Preferences

Respondents provided information (denomination/designation) about their current religious preference in rounds 1, 9, 12, 15 and 18-20 (those who had not been interviewed in round 15 provided information on religion in round 16 or 17). In addition, respondents are asked in each round about their partner's religion as well as the religion of the parent of their children at the time of the pregnancy. In rounds 3-8, respondents also provided the religion of household members. In the round 1 Parent's Questionnaire, the parent being interviewed was asked in what religion the parent was raised and the parent's religion at the time of the interview. Religious preference variables are most readily found by using the phrase "religious preference" in the Word in Title search in NLS Investigator.

Religious Beliefs and Practices

Questions on religious beliefs and practices were asked of NLSY97 respondents as well as their parent. Table 1 lists the variables and the rounds in which they were asked.

Table 1. NLSY97 Variables about Religious Beliefs and Practices

Question name
Question Rounds
YSAQ-282A How often respondent attended worship service in past 12 months Rounds 4-15 and 17-20
YMAR-4200 How often respondent's partner/spouse attended worship/religious service in past 12 months Rounds 1-2
P2-015 How often parent attended church service in past 12 months Parent Questionnaire
P2-051 How often parent's spouse/partner attended worship service in past 12 months Parent Questionnaire
YPRS-600 Percent of peers who go to church regularly Round 1
YSAQ-010 Number of days per week family does something religious Rounds 1-4 (if living with family)
YSAQ-282A2; P6-011 True or False: I don't need religion to have good values Rounds 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18-20; also Parent Questionnaire
YSAQ-282A3; P6-015 thru P6-018 True or False: Religious teachings (Bible, Koran, Torah, etc.) should be obeyed exactly as written in every situation Rounds 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18-20; also Parent Questionnaire
YSAQ-282A4; P6-019 True or False: I often ask God to help me make decisions Rounds 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18-20; also Parent Questionnaire
YSAQ-282A5; P6-020 True or False: God has nothing to do with what happens to me personally Rounds 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18-20; also Parent Questionnaire
YSAQ-282A6; P6-021A True or False: I pray MORE than once a day Rounds 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18-20; also Parent Questionnaire
YSAQ-282A7 Importance of religious faith in daily life Round 12, 15, and 18-20

Comparison to Other NLS Surveys: NLSY79 respondents have provided religious preference information in select survey years. The NLSY79 Child-Young Adult dataset includes both religious preference and religious attendance information. The Original Cohort datasets do not contain information related to religion.

Survey Instruments: Most questions about religion are found in the Self-Administered section and the Parent Questionnaire section (question names begin with SAQ or P) of the Youth Questionnaire.

Main Area of Interest Attitudes
Supplemental Areas of Interest Parent Background