• Child
• Young Adult

Child

Child residence status

A key variable (CRES) is constructed for each NLSY79 main Youth survey round that indicates the child's usual residence at the time of the mother's survey. From 1979-1981 and in 1983 the child's residence status is based on reports from the mother's household roster. In all other years, child residence information is derived from the child-specific questions on "with whom the child usually lives" in the Fertility section of the mother's main Youth questionnaire. The universe of children for the child residence variables includes all children reported by interviewed mothers in the survey year, regardless of age of child. Child residence variables, updated in each new data release to reflect the full universe of children born, are assigned to the CHILD BACKGROUND area of interest.

Child residence codes

For all years, a residence code of "1" indicates that the child lives in the mother's household. For the years 1979-1981 and 1983 in which only limited child and fertility information was collected from the mother, the child residence variables are based on information from the mother's household record and are coded as follows:

• 0 NOT IN HH OF MOTHER
• 1 IN HH OF MOTHER
• 8 DECEASED AT DATE OF INT

In 1982 and 1984 onward, the usual residence of the child is based on reports from the mother in the Fertility section of the main Youth questionnaire about where the child usually lives. In 1982 and 1984-1985, the following response categories were used:

• 1 IN HOUSEHOLD OF MOTHER
• 2 WITH FATHER
• 3 WITH OTHER RELATIVE(S)
• 4 WITH FOSTER CARE
• 5 WITH ADOPTIVE PARENT(S)
• 6 IN LONG TERM CARE INSTITUTION
• 7 AWAY AT SCHOOL
• 8 DECEASED
• 9 OTHER

In 1986, the coding categories were expanded to include:

• 9 PART TIME W/ MOTHER, PART TIME W/ FATHER
• 10 PART TIME W/ MOTHER, PART TIME W/ OTHER
• 11 OTHER

Starting with the 1998 main Youth survey round, a code of "12" was added to describe young adult children living in their own household. Beginning in 2008, other specify answers were recoded, leading to the addition of post-field categories. The full range of categories for the constructed child residence variables now includes:

• 1 IN HOUSEHOLD OF MOTHER
• 2 WITH FATHER
• 3 WITH OTHER RELATIVE(S)
• 4 WITH FOSTER CARE
• 5 WITH ADOPTIVE PARENT(S)
• 6 IN LONG TERM CARE INSTITUTION
• 7 AWAY AT SCHOOL
• 8 DECEASED
• 9 PART TIME W/ MOTHER, PART TIME W/ FATHER
• 10 PART TIME W/ MOTHER, PART TIME W/ OTHER
• 11 OTHER
• 12 OWN INDEPENDENT RESIDENCE
• 13 PRISON
• 14 MILITARY
• 15 TEMPORARY LIVING ARRANGEMENT
• 16 WITH IN-LAWS
• 17 WITH PARTNERS FAMILY

Beginning in 2016, the NLSY79 questionnaire had different coding categories based on the age of the child being asked about. When NLSY79 respondents were asked about children under the age of 23, the following set of categories was used:

• 1 IN THIS HOUSEHOLD
• 2 WITH (HIS/HER) (FATHER/MOTHER)
• 12 OWN RESIDENCE, ALONE OR WITH OTHERS
• 7 AWAY AT SCHOOL
• 3 WITH OTHER RELATIVES
• 9 PART-TIME WITH YOU, PART-TIME WITH OTHER PARENT
• 10 PART-TIME WITH YOU, PART-TIME WITH OTHER PERSON
• 4 WITH FOSTER CARE
• 5 WITH ADOPTIVE PARENTS
• 6 LONG TERM CARE INSTITUTION
• 8 DECEASED
• 11 OTHER (SPECIFY)
• 99 R INDICATES THIS IS NOT HIS/HER BIOLOGICAL CHILD

When NLSY79 respondents were asked about children age of 23 and older, the following set of categories was used:

• 1 IN THIS HOUSEHOLD
• 13 JAIL/PRISON
• 14 MILITARY
• 8 DECEASED
• 18 SOMEWHERE ELSE
• 99 R INDICATES THIS IS NOT HIS/HER BIOLOGICAL CHILD

For 2018, the set of categories used when NLSY79 respondents were asked about children age of 23 and older was:

• 1 IN THIS HOUSEHOLD
• 2 WITH (HIS/HER) (FATHER/MOTHER)
• 7 AWAY AT SCHOOL
• 12 OWN RESIDENCE, ALONE OR WITH OTHERS
• 13 JAIL/PRISON
• 14 MILITARY
• 8 DECEASED
• 11 OTHER (SPECIFY)
• 99 R INDICATES THIS IS NOT HIS/HER BIOLOGICAL CHILD

Child residence location: Geographic

Since the child's residence is in the mother's household, information about the location of each child's residence, including region, urban/rural, and SMSA status must be obtained from the mother's main Youth record. Geographic information more specific than that provided on the public file can be obtained from the NLSY79 main Youth Geocode for the children and from the NLSY79 Young Adult geocode for the young adults. Details on constructed variables that can be obtained from the mother's record and linked to the Child data can be found in Geographic Residence & Geocode Data section.

Young Adult

Young Adult respondents provide information on their living arrangements, such as whether they are living with their mother, with both parents, on their own, or in some other arrangement. The questions used to establish residence are at the beginning of the Household Interview section. Because type of residence is sometimes miscoded in the field, researchers are encouraged to use the created RESTYPE(year) for the survey year(s) they are interested in. However, it is important for users to note that the type of residence as coded in the field will have driven branching within the questionnaire. The residence as coded in the interview can be found in question HH1-1-B in each survey year.

Young Adults under age 23 who do not live with their mother are asked when and why they left home for both the most recent and, if applicable, the first time. If the father is no longer living with the mother, these young adults are also asked about when they last lived with their father. Since 2000, questions have also been asked about movement into or out of the mother's household and about homelessness. All Young Adults not living with parents are asked the amount and type of contact they have with their parent(s).

If a Young Adult has become a parent, questions are asked about whether he or she is living with each child and whether the other parent of that child is also living in the same household as the Young Adult.