• Child
• Young Adult

Child

Neighborhood safety. In 1992 a question was added to the Child Self-Administered Supplement for children 10 and older about how safe they felt walking and playing in their neighborhood. From 1992 to 2014, this question can be found in the CHILD SELF-ADMINISTERED SUPPLEMENT area of interest with the title, 'CHILD SELF-ADMIN: HOW SAFE CHILD FEELS WALKING AND PLAYING IN NEIGHBORHOOD.' In 2016, the same question was asked of Young Adults ages 12 and 13 as of the end of 2016.

Beginning in 1992, mothers were  asked, HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS A PLACE TO RAISE CHILDREN? WOULD YOU SAY IT IS EXCELLENT, VERY GOOD, GOOD, FAIR, OR POOR? Documented as Q10-74 in the mother's main Youth questionnaire, this item was asked from 1992-2000.

Neighborhood quality. From 1992-2000, mothers of NLSY79 children were asked (Q10-75 in the main Youth questionnaire) to assess the quality of the neighborhood on a number of dimensions. Mothers were given a potential problem, such as "people don't have enough respect for rules and laws" and asked, "Is this a big problem in your own neighborhood, somewhat of a problem or not a problem at all?" NLSY79 Young adults self-report on this same series, starting in 1994. Items include measures of both resources and collective efficacy. The NLSY79 neighborhood quality series is taken from the National Commission on Children Parent & Child Study, 1990 Parent Questionnaire, p.7 (V32, V34-V41).

Neighborhood volunteerism. From 2004 to 2014, users can identify whether children 10-14 are involved with a neighborhood improvement organization. In 2004, this question was assigned to the CHILD SELF-ADMINISTERED SUPPLEMENT area of interest. Starting in 2006, this question was assigned to the year-specific CHILD SUPPLEMENT area of interest. Information about neighborhood is also available in the Young Adult survey in the YA SELF REPORT area of interest.

Table 1. Question names and titles for neighborhood volunteerism items by survey year

Young Adult

In each survey year, Young Adult respondents report on the negative characteristics of the neighborhood where they live. Items include measures of both resources and collective efficacy. The neighborhood quality series is taken from the National Commission on Children Parent & Child Study, 1990 Parent Questionnaire, p.7 (V32, V34-V41). Young Adults age 14 and older rate the following statements describing problems that neighborhoods sometimes have, indicating whether the issue is a big problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem in their own neighborhood:

• People don't have enough respect for rules and laws
• Crime and violence
• Abandoned or run-down buildings
• Not enough police protection
• Not enough public transportation
• Too many parents who don't supervise their children
• People keep to themselves and don't care what goes on in the neighborhood
• Lots of people who can't find jobs

Beginning in 2016, children aged 12 and over have been fielded as part of the Young Adult sample. Children ages 12 and 13 answer one question about their neighborhoods, “Thinking about the area around your home, how safe do you feel walking and playing in your neighborhood?” This question was asked in the Child Self-Administered Supplement from 1992 to 2014.

Comparison to Other NLS Cohorts: The NLSY79 mothers were asked this neighborhood quality series in 1992 and from 1994 to 2000. Children between ages 10 and 14 are asked some contextual questions about their neighborhoods in the Child Self-Administered Supplement. Data on both household and neighborhood environments are collected from the NLSY97 respondents.