• Young Women cohort
• Mature Women cohort

Young Women Family Background Variables

The Young Women surveys provide researchers with a variety of family background data. The surveys collected information on three primary topics: parents, siblings, and the respondent's family background at age 14.

Parent Background

In the 1968 interview, the women were asked about the birth countries of their parents and grandparents; Table YW1 depicts the results.

If a respondent did not live in her parents' household, five of the first six surveys asked about the number of weeks worked by her parents, whether they usually worked full- or part-time, and their occupation. This information is in the "Household Roster" for respondents still residing with their parents.

The 1968 survey collected the life status of the respondent's and her husband's parents. In 1988 and 1991, additional information on the respondents' biological parents included their current ages (if they were still alive) or the ages when they died. The 1991 survey also asked about the main cause of death for all deceased parents. The in-depth Parents and Transfers section of the 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2003 surveys collected information on the respondent's and her husband's biological parents, including their current ages or the ages when they died. The respondent also reported the month and year of each parent's birth and death, as applicable. In these surveys, information was also collected about each parent's overall health and the distance each parent lived from the respondent. Other information from this detailed series of questions is discussed in the Transfers section.

Siblings

The Young Women surveys collected sibling data six times. The first collection, in 1968, asked respondents how many brothers and sisters lived outside their home. It also asked the age and highest grade completed of the oldest sibling. In 1978, a full collection of information about siblings was included in the survey. Respondents were asked to provide the name, sex, birth date, and highest grade completed of up to 10 siblings who were not living in their home at the interview date. Respondents were also asked to count how many brothers and sisters lived in their home currently; information about these siblings is in the "Household Roster." In 1983, 1988, 1991, and 1993, respondents were asked if they or their husbands had any dependents; they could then list how many brothers or sisters were dependent on them for at least half their support. Finally, in 1993, another full roster of siblings was included in the survey. Respondents were asked to state the sibling's name, sex, age, life status, highest grade completed, number of children, and age when first child was born for up to 10 siblings.

Respondent Background at Age 14

The 1968 survey asked respondents where they were born and how long they had lived at their current residence. Of the 5,159 respondents, 5,043 (97.8%) reported having been born in the United States.

Information was also collected during the initial interview about the living arrangements of respondents when they were 14 years old, including with whom the respondent lived and whether the residence was in a large or small city or in the country. In addition, the survey collected the occupation and the highest grade completed of the respondents' parents. In 1978, the respondent was again asked whether her mother worked when she was a teenager. If so, follow-up questions asked about her mother's occupation and about the respondent's perception of how her mother felt about working. The 1968 survey also asked whether magazines and newspapers were available in the respondent's home at age 14 and whether the respondent or someone in the household had a library card. In 1973, the survey asked the respondent whether a language other than English was spoken in the home when she was a child and, if so, which language.

Mature Women Family Background Variables

The Mature Women surveys provide researchers with a variety of family background data. The surveys collected information on three primary topics: parents, siblings, and the respondent's family background at age 15.

Parent Background

In the 1967 interview, the women were asked about the birth countries of their parents and grandparents; Table MW1 depicts the results.

Information on the life status of the respondent's and her husband's parents was collected in 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1981, 1984, 1989, 1997, 2001, and 2003. The 1981 survey also asked how frequently respondents had contact with their parents and parents-in-law, as well as the distance they lived from each. In 1984, 1989, and 1997, respondents were again asked about the distance they lived from their parents and parents-in-law. These surveys also collected information on whether the respondent's or her husband's parents needed help for health reasons and, if so, who provided the care. The 1992, 1997, 2001, and 2003 surveys collected additional information on the respondents' biological parents including their current ages (if they were still alive) or the ages when they died. For all deceased parents, the survey collected information on the main cause of death. The 1997 survey also asked about each parent's overall health condition. Other information from these detailed 1997, 2001, and 2003 series of questions is discussed in the Transfers section.

Siblings

The Mature Women surveys collected data about siblings in two survey years. The first collection, in 1977, asked respondents to provide the name, sex, birth date, and highest grade completed of up to 10 siblings who were not living in their home on the date of the survey. Respondents were also asked to count how many brothers and sisters lived in their home currently; information about these siblings is on the 1977 "Household Roster." In 1981, the survey asked how many living brothers and how many living sisters the respondent had. The respondent also answered questions about how often she contacted her closest sibling and the distance that sibling lived from the respondent's home.

Respondent Background at Age 15

The 1967 survey asked respondents where they were born and how long they had lived at their current residence. Of the 5,083 respondents, 4,836 (95.1%) reported having been born in the United States.

Information was also collected during the initial interview about the living arrangements of respondents when they were 15 years old, including with whom the respondent lived and whether the residence was in a large or small city or in the country. In addition, the survey collected the occupation and the highest grade completed of the respondent's parents.