Mature Women cohort
The Mature Women respondents were asked about a variety of activities throughout the survey years, including household chores, leisure activities, driving, and use of community services.
Household chores
In 1982, 1984, and 1987, respondents answered a series of questions about household chores, with the emphasis on whether the chore was the respondent's sole responsibility, shared responsibility, or the responsibility of others. These chores included grocery shopping, child care, caregiving for the ill or disabled (only in 1984 and 1987), cooking, cleaning dishes, cleaning house, washing clothes, yard and home maintenance, and family paperwork. Respondents also estimated the number of hours spent per week on all household tasks combined.
In the 1999 through 2003 surveys, respondents indicated how much time they spent helping family members (adult children and mothers and fathers) with household chores. They also answered questions about any time their children spent helping them. The Transfers section includes more information about this series of questions.
| Areas of Interest | Household Chores |
|---|
Leisure activities
In 1967, the first year of the survey, respondents were asked about any non-work, non-housework activities: home activities, social activities away from home, or clubs/education/church activities. If they had no time for these leisure activities they indicated as such.
| Areas of Interest | Household Chores |
|---|
Automobile driving
A series of questions about driving vehicles was asked in 1995. Respondents answered questions about the number of miles driven in the 12 months prior to the interview, whether they had driven after dark during that time period, and, if they weren't driving at the time of the interview, what year they last drove and what was the main reason they stopped driving.
| Areas of Interest | Health Status |
|---|
Use of community services
In 2003, the final year of data collection, respondents answered a series of questions about community services they might have used in the 12 months prior to the interview. These services included transportation for the elderly, Meals on Wheels, meals at a senior center, homemaker services, telephone check services, visiting nurse or health aide, or adult day care. They also answered a question about how much help they could expect from family, friends or other people if they had a problem and needed help.
| Related Variables | The Labor Force Status section provides information on "Activity Most of Work Week" responses, while the Job Search section indicates activities undertaken for seeking a job. Information about health-related restrictions on activities can be found in the Physical Health section. For activities related to volunteering, see the Volunteerism section. |
|---|---|
| Survey Instruments & Documentation | Questions on activities can be found in various questionnaire sections, including "Health," "Other Family Background," "Intra-family Transfers," and "Attitudes." |
| Areas of Interest | Health Status |
Young Women cohort
The Young Women respondents were asked about a variety of activities throughout the survey years, including household chores, extra-curricular school activities, and driving.
Household chores
In 1972, young women respondents gauged the average time they spent weekly on household activities. These activities included food preparation and cleanup, house cleaning, clothing care, child care, and shopping.
In 1983, respondents answered another series of questions about household chores. This time the emphasis was on whether the chore was the respondent's sole responsibility, shared responsibility, or the responsibility of others. These chores included grocery shopping, child care, cooking, cleaning dishes, cleaning house, washing clothes, yard and home maintenance, and family paperwork. Respondents also estimated the number of hours spent per week on all household tasks combined.
In the 1999 through 2003 surveys, respondents indicated how much time they spent helping family members (adult children and mothers and fathers) with household chores. They also answered questions about any time their children spent helping them. The Transfers section includes more information about this series of questions.
| Areas of Interest | Household Chores |
|---|
Extra-curricular school activities
In the initial year of the survey in 1968, respondents were asked if they took part in any extra-curricular activities during their last full year of high school, how much time was spent weekly on the activities, and which activity was their favorite. Respondents were also asked what non-school-related activity--hobby, reading, work for pay, helping at home, or non-school related sports--took up the most of their extra time during that last year of high school.
| Areas of Interest | Education |
|---|
Automobile driving
A series of questions about driving vehicles was asked in 1995. Respondents answered questions about the number of miles driven in the 12 months prior to the interview, whether they had driven after dark during that time period, and, if they weren't driving at the time of the interview, what year they last drove and what was the main reason they stopped driving.
| Related Variables | The Labor Force Status section provides information on "Activity Most of Work Week" responses, while the Job Search section indicates activities undertaken for seeking a job. Information about health-related restrictions on activities can be found in the Physical Health section. For activities related to volunteering, see the Volunteerism section. |
|---|---|
| Survey Instruments & Documentation | Questions on activities can be found in various questionnaire sections, including "Health," "Other Family Background," "Intra-family Transfers," and "Attitudes." |
| Areas of Interest | Health Status |