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.


VIII. Attitudes, Behaviors, and Time Use

A. Attitudes (age restrictions as of 12/31/96)

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Y's perception of teachers, school discipline, school safety Y                                      
Percent of peers Y believes participate in various activities Y                                      
Percent of peers Y believes have had sexual intercourse ≥15                                      
Y's contact with absent parent Y * * <14 <14 ≥13 * * * * * *   *            
Y's opinion of parent's supportiveness, permissiveness Y * * *   ≥13 *     *   *   * *   *      
Y's opinion of resident/biological mother, resident/biological father Y=12-
14
=12-14 =12-14   *   *                          
Belief about parent's knowledge of Y's activities Y=12-
14
=12-14 =12-14 =12-14 *   *                          
Frequency of contact between Y's parents, level of friendliness and hostility Y=12-
14
=12,13 =12,13 =12-14   *                            
Y's opinion of parents' relationship behaviors Y=12-
14
=12-14 =12-14 =12-14 =12-14 <13                            
How much say Y has in making rules P,Y=
12,13
=12,13 =12,13 =12,13 =12,13                              
Y's communication with and advice from parent figures       * * ≥13 * *                        
Whom Y would turn to for help with a problem Y≤14 ≤14 ≤14 *   *   *   *   * * * *   * *    
Religious identification and attendance (questions vary) Y     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Y's perception of criminal justice system Y * * * * * *                          
Y's perception of own personality traits (series shortened in R7)             ≤14 ≤14       *                
Series about Y's best friend             =13,14   =13,14                      
Frequency/importance of family events and holidays         *   *   *   *     * *          
Persons Y turns to for advice on relationships             *   *                *      
Persons Y turns to for advice on education and employment             *   * * * *                
Persons Y discusses/turns to for advice on finances             *     * * * * * *    *     *
Persons Y turns to for advice on work issues                   * * *                
Y's opinions on government responsibility                   *                    
Y's opinions on personal responsibility                     *                  
Ladder of life: Y's rating of life now, five years in past and five years in future                         *              
Y's perceptions about their risk-taking tendency, work ethic, and rule-following ethic                           *            
Y's self rating of risk taking for specific situations                             *          
Y's self rating of grit                               * * *    

B. Behaviors (age restrictions as of previous calendar year--(12/31/96 in round 1, 12/31/97 in round 2, and so forth)

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Dating: Age first dated, frequency of dating, # of people dated Y * * * *                              
More detailed dating series about most recent partner           * * * * * * * * * *          
Age first had sexual intercourse Y≥14 ≥14 * * * * * * * *                    
# of sexual partners Y≥14 ≥14 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *      
Characteristics of first and most recent sexual partner or experience       * * * * * * *                    
Risky sexual behaviors       * * * * * * * * * * * * *      
Any sexual intercourse in past 12 months                                   * * *
Type and use of birth control (condom, other) Y≥14 ≥14 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Expanded section on contraceptive choice (asked of a subset of respondents)                     *                  
Cigarette smoking in past month Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * only # of days smoked cigarettes  only # of days smoked cigarettes      
Alcohol intake in past month Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *      
Marijuana use in past month Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   *      
Age of first cigarette/alcohol/marijuana use Y * * * * * * * *                      
Age first used/frequency of use of other drugs such as cocaine, crack, heroin   * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   *      
Age first time/# of times ever ran away (age restriction as of last interview date) Y ≤16 ≤16 ≤16 ≤16 ≤16 ≤16                          
Age Y first carried a handgun Y * * * * * * * *                      
Y carried a handgun in the last month Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * *          
Age Y joined a gang Y * * * * * * * *                      
Type of crimes Y committed Y * * * * * * 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Age when Y committed crime first time Y                                      
Number of crimes committed in the previous year or since last interview Y * * * * * * 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6  6 6
Amount from selling illegal drugs or merchandise Y * * * * * * 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
# of times Y arrested Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Date of Y's first or most recent arrest Y 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 * * * * * * * * * * *
Offense charged with for each arrest Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Y convicted or plead guilty for each arrest Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Facility, duration of sentence Y * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Details of imprisonment (Consequences such as loss of job, loss of children, etc., services offered while in prison, visits from family, etc.)                       * * * * * * * *
Details of post-incarceration, parole experience                       * * * * * * * *
Computers, devices and the Internet (questions vary)             * * * * * * * * * * * * *
5 First commission of a crime and first arrest information were collected in a later round only if not available from a previous round.
6 Questions were asked only to those previously arrested and the control group.

C. Time use (age restrictions as of 12/31/96)

Variable R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Time spent on homework (weekends/weekdays) Y=12-14                                      
Time in extra classes, reading, watching TV (weekends/weekdays) Y=12-14                                      
Time Y usually gets up (not enrolled or employed youths) Y≥16 ≥15 ≥15                                  
Place Y goes to on a regular basis, time goes and returns (not enrolled or employed) Y≥16 ≥15 ≥15                                  
Attitudes about how much time spent on paid job, housework, family, friends, leisure activities, relaxing                   *