NLSY79 Appendix 25: Attitudinal Scale Scoring

This appendix contains descriptions of scale score computations for the following attitudinal scales:

• Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
• Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
• Pearlin Mastery Scale
• Rotter Locus of Control Scale
• Satisfaction with Life Scale
• General Anxiety Disorder Scale

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale

Created Variables:  CES-D Scale Scores

Scoring computations are described below.

Please note: Item response theory (IRT) parameter estimates, IRT scores, and their standard errors of measurement for the CES-D variables are also available, along with a custom-weighted z-score and percentile rank. See Appendix 27: IRT Item Parameter Estimates, Scores and Standard Errors for a detailed description and discussion of the IRT scoring for these scales.

The CES-D is a self-report scale that measures the current prevalence of depression symptoms. Respondents rate a series of statements regarding how they felt during the week prior to the interview. While the full 20-item battery was included in the 1992 (round 14) survey, a collapsed 7-item battery was administered to respondents in the 1994 (round 16) survey. A slightly expanded 9-item battery was included in the 40+ Health Module and in all years of the 50+ and 60+ Health Modules. All years of the 40+, 50+ and 60+ (initiated in 2018) Health Modules contained the consistent 7-item scale. Table 1 details the questions asked and the survey years and modules in which they were included.

Table 1: CES-D Scale Questions Including Survey Years and Modules Asked

Possible responses for all 16 negative-symptom questions are as follows:

0 point : Rarely or none of the time (< 1 day)
1 point : Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 points: Occasionally or a moderate amount of the time (3-4 days)
3 points: Most or all of the time (5-7 days).

Response categories for 4 positive-symptom questions asked only in 1992 (CESD~000002A, CESD~000005A, CESD~000006A, CESD~000007B) are reversed.

Scale scores for 1992 (20-item and 7-item), 1994 and the 40+, 50+, and 60+ Health Modules (7-item) CES-D are all computed by summing the points for each answer across either the 20 items or 7 items in the specific survey year or module. The 20-item scale contains both negative- and positive-symptom questions. No positive-symptom questions are included in the 7-item scales.CES-D 20-item scale score: Points for all 20 items were summed. Possible scores range from 0 to 60, with the higher scores indicating the presence of more depressive symptoms. If more than four items are missing, the scale score is coded as missing. A flag that indicates the number of missing items for CES-D 20-item scale is also present.

CESD 7-item scale score: Points are summed across 7 items (CESD~000001, CESD~000003, CESD~000004, CESD~000005, CESD~000006, CESD~000008, CESD~000009). The possible range of scores is 0 to 21. If one item is missing, the scale score is coded as missing.

References

Radloff, Lenore. S. 1977. "The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population." Applied Psychological Measurement, V.1, No. 3 (Summer): 385-401.

Ross, Catherine E., and John Mirowsky. 1989. "Explaining the Social Patterns of Depression: Control and Problem Solving--or Support and Talking?" Journal of Health and Social Behavior, V.30, No. 2 (June): 206-219.

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

Created Variables

Scoring computations are described below.

Please note: Item response theory (IRT) parameter estimates, IRT scores, and their standard errors of measurement for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem variables are also available, along with a custom-weighted z-score and percentile rank. See Appendix 27for a detailed description and discussion of the IRT scoring for these scales.

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is designed to measure the self-evaluation that an individual makes and customarily maintains. It has been administered to NLSY79 respondents in survey years 1980, 1987 and 2006. Table 2 lists the questions by survey year.

Table 2: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale Items (1980, 1987, 2006)

Possible response categories for items 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 are:

• 0 points: strongly agree
• 1 point: agree
• 2 points: disagree
• 3 points: strongly disagree

Response categories for items 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 are reversed so that a higher score indicates higher self-esteem.

Points for each of the 10 items were summed to create the scale scores. Scores range from 0 to 30 points. If one item is missing, the scale score is coded as missing.

References       

Rosenberg, Morris. 1965. Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Pearlin Mastery Scale

Created Variables

Scoring computations are described below.

Please note: Item response theory (IRT) parameter estimates, IRT scores, and their standard errors of measurement for the Pearlin Mastery variables are also available, along with a custom-weighted z-score and percentile rank. See Appendix 27 for a detailed description and discussion of the IRT scoring for this scale.

The Pearlin Mastery scale is designed to measure self-concept and references the extent to which individuals perceive themselves in control of forces that significantly impact their lives. It was administered in NLSY79 survey year 1992 (round 14). Table 3 lists the Pearlin Mastery questions.

Table 3: Pearlin Mastery Questions

Possible response categories for items 4, 6 are:

• 4 points: strongly agree
• 3 points: agree
• 2 points: disagree
• 1 point: strongly disagree

Response categories for items 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 are reversed so that higher scores represent greater sense of mastery.

Points for each of the 10 items were summed to create the scale scores. Scores can range from 7 to 28 points. If one item is missing, the scale score is coded as missing.

References

Pearlin, Leonard I.; Lieberman, Morton A.; Menaghan, Elizabeth G.; and Joseph T. Mullan. 1981. “The Stress Process.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior, V.22, No. 4 (December): 337-356.

Rotter Locus of Control Scale

Created Variables

ROTTER_SCORE        ROTTER SCALE SCORE 79

ROTTER_SCORE        ROTTER SCALE SCORE 14

ROTTER_SCORE        ROTTER SCALE SCORE 16

ROTTER_SCORE        ROTTER SCALE SCORE 18

Scoring computations are described below.

The Rotter Locus of Control scale is designed to measure the extent to which individuals believe they have control over their lives through self-motivation or self-determination (internal control) as opposed to the extent that the environment (that is, chance, fate, luck) controls their lives (external control). It was included in the 1979, 2014, 2016 and 2018 (for those not interviewed in 2014 and 2016 respectively) NLSY79 surveys. Table 4 lists the question names and reference numbers in each year.

Table 4: The 1979 NLSY79 Rotter – Locus of Control Questions (1979, 2014, 2016, 2018)

Points for each pair of items are as follows:

Internal control statement:

• 1 point: Much closer
• 2 points: Slightly closer

External control statement:

• 3 points: Much closer
• 4 points: Slightly closer

Points for each of the 4 pairs were summed to create scale scores. Scores range from 4 to 16 points. If one item is missing, the scale score is coded as missing.

References

Rotter, Julian B. 1966. “Generalized Expectancies for Internal Versus External Control of Reinforcement.” Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 80 (1):1-28.

Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)

Created Variables

Scoring computations are described below.

The Satisfication with Life Scale (Deiner, Emmons, Larson and Griffin) seeks to measure individual general satisfaction with one's life. It is included in the NLSY79 60+ Health Module which was initiated in the 2018 survey (round 28) and will be asked of respondents as they approach or reach the age of 60. Table 5 lists the Satisfaction with Life questions.

Table 5: Satisfaction with Life Scale Questions

Possible response categories for all items are:

• 7 points: strongly agree
• 6 points: agree
• 5 points: slightly agree
• 4 points: neither agree nor disagree
• 3 points: slightly disagree
• 2 points: disagree
• 1 point: strongly disagree

Points for each of the 5 items were summed to create the scale scores. Scores can range from 5 to 35 points, with higher scores indicating greater life satisfaction. If one item is missing, the scale score is coded as missing.

References

Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75.

General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)

Created Variables

Scoring computations are described below.

The General Anxiety Disorder Scale (developed by Spitzer, Kroenke, Williams and Lowe) asks respondents how often they have experienced certain feelings associated with anxiety in the past two weeks. It is included in the NLSY79 60+ Health Module, which was initiated in the 2018 survey (round 28) and will be asked of respondents as they approach or reach the age of 60. Table 6 lists the Satisfaction with Life questions.

Table 6: General Anxiety Disorder Questions

Possible response categories for all items are:

• 0 points: not at all
• 1 point: several days
• 2 points: more than half the days
• 3 points: nearly every day

Points for each of the 7 items were summed to create the scale scores. Scores can range from 0 to 21 points, with higher scores indicating greater levels of anxiety. If one item is missing, the scale score is coded as missing.

References

Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder: The GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092-1097. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.