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 Introduction to users of NSFH2 data files (Readme)

CONTENT OF THE FIVE YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS (1992-1994)

Wave 2 Field Report

Main Interview
Main Interview Self-Administered Questionnaire
Parent Interview
Focal Child Age 10-17
Focal Child Age 18-23

NOTE: Links to the codebook files corresponding to the headings can be found next to the section headings in the  summary outline below.  More than one codebook file is indicated in the few instances when the division of the codebook files does not correspond to the divisions of the sections in the outline.  The data files (simply d1all.003 in the case of NSFH1), as well as these linked codebook files, can be found through the ftp link at the top of this page.  The naming conventions and lists of files are described in nsfhfile.lis .
VARIABLE NAMES IN ( )

MAIN INTERVIEW: PRIMARY RESPONDENT, CURRENT SPOUSE/PARTNER, EX-SPOUSE/PARTNER

HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION (MA1-MA9, MB1-MB23)   cr1.002
Birthdate | Marital status | Detailed household composition | Householder | If absent spouse: reason for absence

SONS AND DAUGHTERS LIVING ELSEWHERE (MC1-MC40)   cr1.002
Own and spouse/partner's

GOINGS AND COMINGS OF CHILDREN (MC41-MC44, MD1-MD42) Own and spouse's   cr1.002
Children on T1 and not mentioned in above | Children on roster at both T1 and T2 | Children on roster at T2 but not T1 | Children on roster at T1 but not T2 | Children under 18 on roster at neither T1 nor T2

CAREGIVING AND RECEIVING (ME1-ME55)   cr1.002cr2.002
Long-term physical or mental conditions for all household members | Anyone in household need assistance | R given/received assistance in last 12 months to/from anyone not living with them | R given/received help in last 12 months to/from anyone living with them

RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS (MF1-MF120)   cr2.002
Mother, father, spouse/partner's mother, spouse/partner's father, step-parents: Living, age, date died, health (not for step), relationship with, marital status, where live, frequency of contact | Parent types alive at T1: Ever live in R's household since T1 | Own parents: Ever live in household of R's sibs since T1; ever patient in nursing home or long-term care facility since T1 | All parent types: help given and received in past month, hospitalization, physical and mental health, income problems

CORESIDENCE WITH PARENTS (MF121-MF148)   cr3.002
R lived with parent both T1 and T2: anytime not living with parent since T1 | R lived with parent T1 not T2: date and reason apart | R lives with parent T2 not T1: date and why began living with parent | R lived with parent at neither T1 nor T2: live with parents at any time since T1

RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULT CHILDREN (MG1-MG19)   cr3.002
All children (and spouse/partner's children) aged 19 or older, help given/received in past month

SIBLINGS (MH1-MH8)   cr3.002
Number of living sibs including step and half | How far away | How often see any, phone or letter

GRANDPARENTING (MH9-MH22) All respondents whose children have children   cr3.002
Number of grandchildren | Age youngest, age oldest | Nights which any grandchild stayed overnight without parent in past 12 months | Frequency contact in last 12 months | Relationship quality | Responsibility for a grandchild for 6 months or more

CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW SPOUSES (MH23-MH46)   cr3.002
Parental family intact | Mother's education, father's education | Race/ethnicity | T1 characteristics

MARRIAGE, COHABITATION, DATING AND WIDOWHOOD (MI1-MI203)  cr4.003
Dates of marriages, separations, divorces and widowhoods since T1 | Dates of beginning and end of all cohabitations since T1 | Characteristics of partners for those married since T1 (or first cohabitation partner if no marriage since T1 | If neither cohabiting nor married at T2: how likely to ever marry, cohabit ; dating; if have steady partner | Widowed since T1: cause of death, medical conditions, care required, where lived, help from others, when last worked | Characteristics if spouse was a nonrespondent at T1

FERTILITY (MJ1-MJ34)   cr5.002
Women under age 50 and Men with a wife/partner under age 50
Biological and adopted children since T1 | Currently pregnant | Future birth plans

PROBLEM INVENTORY, ALL CHILDREN 5-17 (MK1-MK43)   cr5.002
(Format is to ask "if any" with respect to a list of all children, then which)
Difficulty or ease in raising | Long-lasting physical condition, mental or emotional problem | Dropped out of school or not been able to attend school for at least 3 months | Repeated a grade | In trouble with police | Skipped school or cut classes | Gotten [someone] pregnant while not married | Seen a therapist for emotional problems since T1

FOCAL CHILD AGE 5-17, BEHAVIOR AND OUTCOMES (ML1-ML91)  cr5.002
Global health, height, weight | Grade in school | Average grades | Good at athletics or sports, art or design, music, making or fixing mechanical things | Total education parent thinks child will get | Friends | Spend time last week in one-on-one activities | Rewards and punishments | Frequency in last 30 days talk about: something worrying child, something child was excited about | Given child a hug/kiss or spanked child in past week | How influence | Allowed to be home alone at certain times | Curfew | R and child's contact about school | School child attends | R's involvement in child's school | TV watching | Chores and allowance | Other money earned | Proportion of child's earnings saved and spent | Driver's license | Vehicle ownership and access | Dating | Open disagreements | Overall quality of relationship | Child's relationship with R's parents

PROBLEM INVENTORY, CHILDREN 18-23 (MK44-MK72)   cr6.003
(Format is to ask "if any" with respect to a list of all children, then which)
Difficulty or ease in raising | Long-lasting physical condition, mental or emotional problem | Dropped out of school before completing high school | In trouble with police | Gotten [someone] pregnant while not married | Seen a therapist for emotional problems since T1

RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOCAL CHILD AGE 18-23 (ML92-ML139)  cr6.003
Time spent together | Open disagreements | Avoid talking about certain topics because leads to arguments | Global relationship | How handle disagreements | Relationship quality | How happy with child's schooling, relationships and occupation | How likely to talk with child | How influence | If child living here: how works out, pay for room or board, amount | How much R pays for child's expenses

PROBLEM INVENTORY, CHILD UNDER AGE 5 (MK73-MK86)  cr6.003
(Format is to ask "if any" with respect to a list of all children, then which)
Difficulty or ease in raising | Long-lasting physical condition, mental or emotional problem | Seen a therapist for emotional problems since T1

NEW FOCAL CHILD UNDER AGE 5 (ML140-ML183)   cr6.003
Global health, height, weight | Ready for kindergarten | Behaviors during feeding | Sleeping and eating patterns | Crying and fussing | One-on-one time spent | TV watching | Preschool | Time spent per day taking care of child | Relationship | Child's relationship with R's parents

RESIDENT CHILD'S ABSENT PARENT (MM1-MM86)   cr7.002
Children before those with R | Characteristics at time child was born | Current marital/cohab status, had children since | Miles away | Work and income | Contact with child | How often would like child to spend time with | Grandparents on other parent's side | Influence other parent has | Frequency talk with about child | Conflict over child | R's satisfaction with other parent | Amount of child support | Legal agreement about custody and visitation

ABSENT CHILD'S OTHER PARENT (MM87-MM165)   cr7.002
Children before those with R | Current marital/cohab status, had children since | State | Work and income | Contact with child | How often would like to spend time with child | Grandparents on R's side | Influence R has | Frequency talk with about child | Conflict over child | R's satisfaction with situation and other parent | Amount of child support paid | Legal agreement about custody and visitation

RESIDENCE HISTORY (MN1-MN10)   cr8.002
Since T1, any other address or city; for each intercity move, date, city, state, and number of addresses at that location

RELIGION (MN11-MN13)   cr8.002
Religious preference, denomination, frequency attend

EDUCATION HISTORY (MN14-MN34)   cr8.002
If less than high school grad at T1: since T1 high school diploma or GED | Dates of each spell of enrollment in each school type since T1 and whether each spell mostly full-time or mostly part-time | Degrees since T1 and dates | Active duty in the military since T1

WORK HISTORY (MO1-MO40)   cr8.002
Whether still at T1 job | Dates of each spell of employment and full or part-time | Whether looked for a job during periods when not working | If working continuously since T1: hours worked

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT (MP1-MP101)   cr8.002
Main job: hours worked, employer, occupation, wage, work at home, schedule: days and times, minutes travel to work | Second job: hours, seasonal or year round, hours work at home, schedule: days and times | How many of past 52 weeks: working, unemployed, out of labor force | Looked for work in last 4 weeks | Last job: wage rate, occupation, same occupation as at age 50 (if 60-64) | Spouse's work

INCOME, ASSESTS AND DEBTS (MQ1-MQ100)   cr9.002
Amount of income for R, and if householder or spouse of householder, for each household member age 16+ | Years since 1987 in which received public assistance | If R is householder and has adult parent or child in household, payments received, living expenses R pays, gifts or loans between R and person | If R is not householder and not a child of householder: payments made, living expenses R pays | gifts or loans between R and person | Home purchases | Inheritences | Gifts or loans from/to friends or relatives | Help given/received for living or educational expenses | Value of home, real estate and vehicles | Amount of savings and investments | Debt amounts and payments | Monthly rent

INTERVIEWER OBSERVATIONS, CONTACTING FOCAL CHILD AND PARENT FOR INTERVIEWS, INTERVIEW DATE (MR1-MR35)   cr10.002
Residence structure | Who present during interview | Respondent's: ability to understand, cooperativeness, interest | Amount of interruption | Rapport | Contact information for Focal Child and Parent interviews | Contact person for Respondent | Date of interview

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Self-Administered Modules

SE-1 HOUSEHOLD TASKS (CRSE1-5: ID1,ID1RSN,MT1STAT-MT1I4) All Respondents   crse1-5.002
Hours per week respondent, spouse, others under 19, and others 19 and over spend doing 9 types of household tasks

SE-2 HEALTH AND WELL BEING (CRSE1-5: MT2STAT-MT218J) All Respondents crse1-5.002
Global happiness | Satisfaction | Global health | Physical and mental conditions which limit activities | Partial depression scale, self-esteem, efficacy, alcohol use

SE-3 RECENT MARITAL DISRUPTIONS (CRSE1-5: MT3STAT-MT323) Respondents With Marital Disruption since T1   crse1-5.002
Who wanted marriage to end | Description of marriage | Arguing | Dating | Children's feeling about dating and remarriage | Involvement with others before end of marriage | Communication with former spouse, spouse's parents, friends, where lived, income before separation, state divorced

SE-4 UNMARRIED, NOT COHABITATING (CRSE1-5: MT4STAT-MT413B) Respondents Neither Married Nor Cohabiting   crse1-5.002
How life would be different if married | Steady relationship | Frequency of sex | Attitudes | Desired number of children and employment hours
SE-5 COHABITATION (CRSE1-5: MT5STAT-MT536B) Cohabiting Respondents crse1-5.002
Global relationship | Future marriage plans| Happiness | Fairness in chores, work, money and child care | Time together | Frequency sex | Desired number of children and employment hours | Disagreements | Differences in life if were to seperate | Stability of relationship | Attitudes

SE-6 MARRIAGE (CRSE6-18: MT6STAT-MT630) Married Respondents crse6-18.003
Global relationship | Future marriage plans| Happiness | Fairness in chores, work, money and child care | Time together | Frequency sex | Desired number of children and employment hours | Disagreements | Differences in life if were to seperate | Stability of relationship

SE-7 FOCAL CHILDREN 5-17 (CRSE6-18: MT7STAT-MT705D) Parents of Focal Children Ages 5-17
 crse6-18.003
Behavior problems and moods inventory (27 items from NLSY) | Importance of goals for children: high school, college, job, career, money, marry, children, leader, live nearby

SE-8 FOCAL CHILDREN 3-4 (CRSE6-18: MT8STAT-MT802K) Parents of Focal Children Ages 0-4
 crse6-18.003
Behavior problems and moods inventory (27 items from NLSY)

SE-9 PARENTING (CRSE6-18: MT9STAT-MT912) Parents of Children of All Ages   crse6-18.003
Frequency spend time with children | Frequency discuss important decisions with children | Frequency change rule because of child's opinion | Family descriptors

SE-10 to SE-17 DEVELOPMENT, 0-4 (CRSE6-18: MT*STAT-MT*15, where *=SE number) Parents of Children Under Age 5   crse6-18.003
Fifteen developmental measures from NLSY, targeted to ages in months: 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18, 19-21, and 22-47

SE-18 FAMILY ATTITUDES, SOCIAL PARTICIPATION, AND WORK (CRSE6-18: MT18STAT-MT1813B) All Respondents   crse6-18.003
Gender roles | Cohabitation, marriage, marital stability | Family obligations | Parenthood, unwed parenthood| Retirement | Social participation | Help given and received | Health insurance and pension coverage | Self definition concerning retirement (ages 55+)

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PARENT INTERVIEW

HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION (CPPAR1: PA1-PA65)   cppar1.004
Household compostion | R's marital status, age, education | Children and grandchildren | If absent spouse, reason for absence | Householder | Contact with children | Children living elsewhere | Global quality of relationship

MARRIAGE (CPPAR1: PC1-PC10)   cppar1.004
Times married, for each: when began, how end, date death, divorce, separation | If cohabiting, date began | If unmarried: how likely will get (re)married someday, times dated in last month

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING (CPPAR1: PD1-PD40)   cppar1.004
Global happiness | Frequency worry about family's expenses and bills | Global health | Marital happiness | Physical or mental conditions that limit activities | Depression scale | Alcohol use | Attitudes on obligations between parents and children | Social participation, church attendance

CAREGIVING AND RECEIVING (CPPAR1: PE1-PE53)   cppar1.004
Long-term physical or mental conditions for all household members | Anyone in household need assistance | R given/received assistance in last 12 months to/from anyone not living with them | R given/received help in last 12 months to/from anyone living with them

RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS (CPPAR2: PF1-PF120)   cppar2.003
Mother, father, stepparent, spouse/partner's mother, spouse/partner's father: living, age, date died, health (not for step), relationship with, marital status, where live, frequency of contact | Parent types alive at T1: ever live in R's household since T1; ever patient in nursing home or long-term care facility since T1 | Own parents: ever live in household of R's sibs since T1 | All parent types: help given and received in past month, hospitalization, physical and mental health, income problems

RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULT CHILDREN (CPPAR3: PG1-PG26)  cppar3.003
All children (and spouse/partner's children) aged 19 or older, help and support given/received in past month | All spouse/partner's children: long lasting physical condition; long lasting mental or emotional problem

SIBLINGS (CPPAR3: PH1-PH8)   cppar3.003
Number of sibs including step and half | Distance sibs live | Frequency contact

GRANDPARENTING (CPPAR3: PH9-PH22)   cppar3.003
All respondents whose children have children
Number of grandchildren | Age youngest, age oldest | Nights which any grandchild stayed overnight without parent in past 12 months | Frequency contact in last 12 months | Relationship quality | Responsibility for a grandchild for 6 months or more

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT (CPPAR3: PP1-PP16)   cppar3.003
Self and spouse: employed, (if not) when last worked, usual hours, occupation; how many of past 52 weeks: working, unemployed, out of labor force

INCOME, ASSESTS AND DEBTS (CPPAR3: PQ1-PQ48)   cppar3.003
Amount of income for each household member age 16+ | Gifts or loans between R and friends or relatives | Householders or spouses only: value of home, real estate and vehicles | Amount of savings and investments | Debt amounts and payments | Monthly rent

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FOCAL CHILD AGE 10-17

SCHOOL (CKYOUNG: FY1-FY33)   ckyoung.004
Date of birth | Grade in school | Frequency in past year: had something stolen, been offered drugs, been threatened, got in fight, how feel about school, skipped school | School grades| Usual hours per week: organized athletics, other school extra-curricular activities, organized religious activities, other community youth organizations | Expected educational attainment | Occupational aspiration

FRIENDS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING (CKYOUNG: FY34-FY52)  ckyoung.004
Friends | Frequency friends come to child's home | Dating | Sexual behavior (age 13+) | Efficacy | Self-esteem | How good looking thinks is

ACTIVITIES AND ATTITUDES (CKYOUNG: FY53-FY68)   ckyoung.004
TV watching | Cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use | Marriage aspirations | Fertility plans | Global life evaluation

PARENTS AND SIBLINGS (CKYOUNG: FY69-FY127)   ckyoung.004
Living with biological parents | If not living with bio parents, who is responsible for R? | Time spent with parents | Hugs and kisses from parents | How parent tries to influence R | Criticism and praise | Number of siblings | Relationship with siblings | Allowed to be home alone at certain times | How much parents know about: who R spends time with, how R spends money and what R does with free time | Parent's educational aspiration for R | Relationship with parents: admiration and global measure of relationship | Family atmosphere

ABSENT PARENT (CKYOUNG: FY128-FY150)   ckyoung.004
Contact with absent parent | Changes in plans to visit | How influence | Criticism, praise | Educational aspirations for R | Talk to parent | Admiration for parent | Global relationship | Time spent with both parents | Admiration for and global relationship with absent parents of partner/spouse

RELATIONSHIP WITH BIOLOGICAL PARENT IF LIVE WITH NEITHER PARENT (CKYOUNG: FY151-FY160)   ckyoung.004
Contact with mother | Admiration for and global relationship with mother| Contact with father | Admiration for and global relationship with father

GRANDPARENTS (CKYOUNG: FY161-FY177)   ckyoung.004
Which grandparents living | Contact and global relationship with grandparents on mother's side | Contact and global relationship with grandparents on father's side

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FOCAL CHILD AGE 18-23

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AND HISTORY (CKOLD1: FO1-FO35)   ckold1.005
Current living situation | Marital/cohab status | Number of others in household, for each: name, sex, age, marital status, relationship to R | Householder | (Only if stepchild of R1 for whom may not have from R1 history): Parent history: periods of six months or more NOT living with biomother/biofather | Ever lived on own for four months or longer | If lives with parent, how living with parent works out

MARITAL HISTORY (CKOLD1: FO36-FO89)   ckold1.005
Number of marriages; dates | First spouse and current spouse (if not first), second, third and fourth: cohabitiation with spouse before marrying | Cohabitation

EDUCATION (CKOLD1: FO90-FO141)   ckold1.005
High school diploma or currently attending high school | (If not hs grad) plan (expect) graduation or GED in next 12 months | Expected educational attainment, grades | Postsecondary education | Grades | Degrees and certificates/year each

DATING (CKOLD1: FO142-FO153)   ckold1.005
In past 30 days, times dated | Number of different dates in past 12 months | Steady boy/girlfriend | Marriage plans

FERTILITY (CKOLD2: FO154-FO163)   ckold1.005 , ckold2.004
Fertility: number of children, for each: birth date and with whom living, currently pregnant, want child sometime, desired family size, feelings if never had a (another) child, how happy first learned going to have a child

RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOTHER (CKOLD2: FO164-FO199)   ckold2.004
Frequency contact | Disagreements | Arguing and fighting | Global relationship | Feelings about aspects of relationship | How happy with child's schooling, relationships and occupation | How likely to talk with parent | How influence

AGE, RELIGION AND ECONOMIC VARIABLES (CKOLD2: FO200-FO282) ckold2.004
Birthdate| Religion | Funding sources and expenses for school | Active duty | Employment history | Current employment | Occupational aspirations | Spouse/partner's employment | Self/spouse income past 12 months | Amount of savings, credit card or installment debt, other loans

RELATIONSHIPS WITH FATHER (CKOLD2: FO283-FO319)   ckold2.004
Frequency contact | Disagreements | Arguing and fighting | Global relationship | Feelings about aspects of relationship | How happy with child's schooling, relationships and occupation | How likely to talk with parent | How influence | Frequency do things with both parents

PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS (CKOLD2: FO320-FO326)   ckold2.004
MARRIED: Global marital happiness, stability
COHABITING: Likelihood will marry partner, global relationship with partner, stability

SOCIAL SUPPORT (CKOLD2: FO327-FO329)   ckold2.004
Leisure time with friends | How many persons could ask for help or advice (relatives other than parents, friends)

ATTITUDES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING (CKOLD3: FO330-FO372) ckold2.004ckold3.004
Gender roles, parenting, marriage, divorce, family obligations | Self-esteem | Global well-being| Satisfaction with: school achievement, career prospects, financial situation, leisure time, friendships, health, love life, physical appearance | Global health, height, weight | Partial CESD Depression scale, other depression items, efficacy

SEX AND DRUGS (CKOLD3: FO373-FO387)   ckold3.004
Sexual activity | Cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use | Ever live with problem drinker or drug abuser

RELATIONS WITH STEPPARENTS (CKOLD3: FO388-FO428)  ckold3.004
Ever lived with stepparent | Contact | Disagreements | Arguing and fighting | Global relationship| Feelings about aspects of relationship | How happy with child's schooling, relationships and occupation | How likely to talk with parent | How influence

SIBLINGS AND GRANDPARENTS, INTERVIEW DATE (CKOLD3: FO429-FO454) ckold3.004
Number siblings | Relationship with siblings | Contact and relationship with grandparents on mother's side of family | Contact and relationship with grandparents on father's side of family | Interview date

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Last modified on July 15, 1998