National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health - Content of Survey

Content of Survey

The in-home survey covers many topics, including:

• demographic variables,
• social or familial connections with other study participants,
• household composition,
• frequent activities including exercise and sports,
• feeling of belonging in school and neighborhood,
• close relationships with adults,
• measures of physical and mental health,
  • previous day's food intake,
  • access/use of medical care, weight and eating disorders,
  • use of vehicle safety devices such as helmets and seatbelts,
  • health education,
  • school disciplinary record,
  • sexual history and attitudes towards sexual relationships,
• sexually transmitted disease history,
• knowledge about birth control,
• detailed information about past and ideal romantic relationships,
• friend risk-taking behavior,
• self-efficacy,
• illegal and legal drug use,
• ease of access to weapons and drugs,
• delinquency,
• experiences with violence,
• connections between drugs and violence,
• reproductive history,
• religious attitudes and behavior,
• educational plans and future predictions, and
• interviewer description of respondent.

Much survey content remains the same, but some new topics such as more detailed nutritional self-report, use of sunblock, abusive relationships, more specific information about risky sexual behavior, were included in subsequent waves. In addition, the educational progress of participants raised new questions about their transition into work or college.