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.


IV. Income, Assets, and Program Participation

A. Income (all questions except wages/salary and parental allowance asked only of independent youths)

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Previous year's income from wages or salary (collected separately for Y and spouse) Y,P * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's income from farm or own business (collected separately for Y and spouse) Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's income from child support Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's interest or dividend payments Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's income from states/trusts/annuities/inheritance Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's income from rental properties Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's income from parental transfers other than allowance Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's income from other sources Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's income from parental allowance Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Previous year's income paid to parents Y,P                                      
Y or spouse/partner claimed Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on previous tax return Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  *  * * * *
Extreme financial situations: cash advance or payday loan used, late rent/mortgage, pressure from bill collectors                     * * * * *  *  * * * *
COVID-19 stimulus payment amount                                       *

B. Assets (questions are asked only of independent youths and at varied ages)3

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Market value of Y's residence or business Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Purchase price of residence   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Amount of rent/mortgage/land contract/loans Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Improvements to property since last interview   * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Y paid property taxes Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Average amount spent on utilities per month Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Value of Y's stock or mutual funds Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Value of Y's retirement plan Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Y's current checking and savings balance Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Value of certificates of deposit/bonds/bills Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Value of real estate Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Value of business or professional practice Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Value of and amount owed on motor vehicles Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Estimated net value of Y's household furnishings Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Value of other assets Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Amount of loans ($200 or more) Y received ($1000 or more in Assets 25 section) Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Amount owed on other types of debt Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Bankruptcy declaration details                 * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Value of assets owned solely by spouse/partner   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
Amount of college loans             * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
3 Youths are asked many of these asset questions in the first interview after they become independent, turn age 18, turn age 20, turn 25 (in "Assets 25" section), turn 30 (in "Assets 30" section), turn 35 (in "Assets 35" section), and turn 40 (in "Assets 40" section). For any given round, therefore, many asset questions will be asked only of a subset of the respondents. They will continue to be asked periodically in future rounds.

C. Program participation (all questions asked only of independent youths) (asked of Y and spouse jointly except where noted)

<
Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
# and duration of unemployment compensation spells, income per week each spell (Y and spouse collected separately) Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
# and duration of worker's compensation spells, income per week each spell (Y and spouse collected separately) Y * * * *                              
Source of worker's compensation payments Y * * * *                              
Income from worker's compensation, amount received (Y and spouse collected separately) Y         * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *
# and duration of AFDC/TANF/ADC spells, income per month each spell Y * * * * * * * * * * * * Income only Income only Income only Income only Income only Income only

Income only

Persons covered under the AFDC/TANF/ADC program Y * * * * * * * * * * * *              
# and duration of Food Stamp (FS) spells, value of FS received per month each spell Y * * * * * * * * * * * * Value only Value only Value only  Value only Value only Value only  Value only
Persons covered under the FS program Y * * * * * * * * * * * *              
# and duration of WIC spells, income per month each spell Y * * * * * * * * * * * * Income only Income only Income only Income only Income only Income only Income only
Persons covered under the WIC program Y * * * * * * * * * * * * *            
# and duration of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program spells, income per spell Y                                      
# and duration of other welfare spells, income per month each spell Y * * * * * * * * * * * * Income only Income only Income only Income only Income only Income only  Income only
Persons covered under other welfare programs Y * * * * * * * * * * * *              
Y lives in public housing or receives rental vouchers Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * *

D. Welfare Knowledge (geocode release-selected respondents only)

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Words used by Y to describe assistance programs             *                          
Y's knowledge of assistance program eligibility             *                          
Y's knowledge of assistance program benefits             *                          
Y's knowledge of assistance program time limits             *