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National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97)

Household, Geography & Contextual Variables: An Introduction

The NLSY97 has collected a wide array of information on demographic, household, and neighborhood characteristics. Table 1 summarizes the topics and universe restrictions.

Table 1. Household, Geographic & Contextual Variables: Topics and Universe Restrictions
NLSY97 User's Guide Topic Round 1 Universe
(Age as of 12/31/96)
Rounds 2 and up Universe
(Age as of 12/31/96)
Age of Respondent
Year and month of birth; age as of interview date
all ages all ages
Sex of respondent all ages all ages
Geographic Indicators
Variables describing respondent's area of residence, including Census region
all ages all ages
Household & Neighborhood Environment
Positive and negative aspects of respondent's household and neighborhood
<=14 for household environment variables; all ages for neighborhood environment variables Household environment variables restricted to <=14 for rounds 2-3, then all ages in round 4; all ages for neighborhood environment variables
Household Composition
Demographic and relational information about members of respondent's household
all ages all ages
Race, Ethnicity & Citizenship Respondent's race/ethnicity and citizenship status all ages all ages (round 6 for race/ethnicity; rounds 5-8 and 10-13 for citizenship)
Youth Residential History
Respondent's living situations; history of respondent's residential moves
all ages; parent interview conducted all ages; round 15 for sibling information