WLS Codebooks

Note: Codebooks contain frequency data from the private data release. For some variables, these differ from the frequencies in the public release. Variables that differ between the public and private versions include "(not available on public release)" as part of the variable description, or a note indicating the difference between the public and private versions.

In Person: Alcohol Use

JALC Alcohol Module

OVERVIEW

In the 2011 wave, the questions regarding alcohol use/experiences
replicate most of the questions from previous waves. Additional
questions were asked to supplement the information collected in
previous waves. The replicated questions have variable names that are
equivalent to those in the previous rounds, with same numbers in the
numeric portion of the variable names. Variables derived from new
questions were assigned new numbers in the variable names.

A core set of questions was administered to all participants whether
or not they were included in the sub-sample. These questions include
the drinking habits of participants in the past month (HU025RE-HU029RE,
HU044RE-HU049RE, HU049ARE-HU049CRE), whether they have ever been
married to, or lived with a problem drinker or alcoholic other than
when they were growing up (HU038RE) and the relationship of such
person to them (HU053RE, HU053ARE-HU053CRE). For those who, in
previous interviews, reported having lived with a problem drinker or
alcoholic while growing up were asked to provide detailed information
on the relationship of such person, including whether the person is
biologically related to the participant and whether the person is from
the mother's or father's side of the family (HU050RE-HU052RE).

Several core questions are new to this wave, including number of times
the participant having 3 or more drinks on the same occasion (HU044RE)
and additional probing questions for don't know and refusal cases
(HU045RE-HU046RE).  The participants were also asked whether the
alcohol use in the last month had been typical (HU047RE), whether
there had been changes since last interview (HU048RE), and the reason
for change, if any (HU049RE, HU049ARE-HU049CRE).

Other replicated questions include selected alcohol symptoms from the
MAST (HU030RE-HU036RE) and selected items from M.I.N.I. PLUS 5.0.0
(HU039RE-HU042RE). In previous wave, these questions were only
administered to a subsample of respondents. In 2011 interview, the MAST
items were asked of all respondents while the M.I.N.I. PLUS 5.0.0 were
only administered to the same 79% random subsample selected in
previous waves (see variables RU001RE and GU001RE). See COR849 in
Appendix M for references on MAST and M.I.N.I. PLUS 5.0.0.

WLS MAST Items:

  1. At any time in your life have you felt bad or guilty about drinking?
     (HU030RE)

  2. At any time in your life have people annoyed you by criticizing your
     drinking? (HU031RE)

  3. Has your drinking caused a problem for you at work? (HU032RE)

  4. Has your drinking created problems between you and your husband/wife 
     /partner, former spouse (if divorced or widowed), children, parents,
     or other near relatives? (HU033RE)

  5. Have you gone to anyone for help about drinking, that is, about your
     drinking or anyone else's? (HU035RE)

  6. Was that about your drinking or someone else's drinking (if yes to
     the above question)? (HU036RE)

WLS M.I.N.I. PLUS 5.0.0 Items:

  A. In your lifetime, did you need to drink more in order to get the
     same effect that you did when you firt started drinking? (H039RE)

  B. In your lifetime, have you tried to reduce or stop drinking
     alcohol but failed (only for those who answered "yes" to
     question A)? (HU040RE)

  C. In your lifetime, did you spend less time working, enjoying
     hobbies, or being with friends because of your drinking (only 
     for those who answered "yes" to question A)? (HU041RE)

  D. In your lifetime, have you continued to drink even though you
     knew that the drinking caused you health or mental problems (only 
     for those who answered "yes" to question A)? (HU042RE)


BRIEF VARIABLE DESCRIPTIONS

HALCSTAT-HALCREL            Module-Level Status Variables.

HU101RE                     Sampling Flag for Additional Alcohol related
                            questions (based on the sampling flag from
                            previous interviews: RU001RE and GU001RE)

HU025RE                     Have Ever Drunk Alcoholic Beverages

HU043RE                     Reason for Refraining from Using Alcohol (if
                            never drunk alcoholic beverages)

HU026RE - HU029RE           Alcohol Use in a Typical Month
HU044RE - HU046RE

HU047RE                     Whether Last Month's Drinking Pattern Is Typical

HU048RE - HU049RE           Whether Drinking Pattern Has Changed Since Last
HU049ARE- HU049CRE          Interview and the Reason for Changes

HU030RE - HU036RE           Selected Alcohol Symptoms from the MAST

HU037RE - HU038RE           Has Participant Ever Lived with a Problem Drinker
                            While Growing Up Or Ever Married to One

HU050RE                     Relationship of the Problem Drinker the 
HU050ARE - HU050CRE         Participant Lived With While Growing Up

HU053RE                     Relationship of the Problem Drinker the
HU053ARE - HU053CRE         Participant Lived With or Married to Other Than
                            While Growing Up

HU039RE - HU042RE           Lifetime Alcohol Symptoms from the M.I.N.I. PLUS 
                            5.0.0

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