Madison, Wisconsin Study of Premarital Sexuality Among Young People: Students, 1973

Investigators: John DeLamater

The focus of this study is on the social aspects of premarital sexuality, sociopsychological characteristics, current sexual behavior and contraceptive knowledge and use among young people. Information on personal and family characteristics, sexual experience, peer group influence, and self-image was also collected. Interviews for the study were conducted with a stratified sample of undergraduates, consisting of 432 male students and 431 female students (see DAAPPP Data Set No. 57 for the corresponding non-student sample). The response rate for the study was 82%; married students were excluded from the survey. Note for users of DAAPPP Data Sets #01-B1DAAPPP data sets 01 through B1 are comprised of a User's Guide, SPSS syntax files (*.SPS or *.SPX) and raw data files only. Most of these datasets contain SPSS syntax files that use Job Control Language (JCL) from 1980s versions of SPSS-X. Because the syntax is old, the syntax files require editing to conform to the current syntax standards used by SPSS/Windows or SPSS/Unix. If you require technical assistance in using or editing these syntax files, please contact Sociometrics' Data Support Group at 800.846.3475 or socio@socio.com.

Maricopa County, Arizona Study of Child Maltreatment Risk Among Adolescent Mothers, 1976-1978

Investigators: Frank G. Bolton, Jr.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the incidence of child maltreatment was higher among natural children born to adolescent mothers, compared to that obtained for children born to post-adolescent women. A random sample of 5,098 observations was drawn from the child maltreatment cases referred to the Maricopa County unit of the Arizona Department of Economic Security's Child Protective Services between January 1, 1976 and December 31, 1978.

Marital Instability Over the Life Course: 1981-1988

Investigators: Alan Booth, David J. Johnson, Lynn K. White, and John N. Edwards

This study consists of data drawn from a three wave panel study on marital instability. Five major dimensions of marital quality formed the foci of the study: divorce proneness (or marital instability), marital problems, marital happiness, marital interaction, and marital disagreements. Initially, the investigators devoted considerable attention to female labor force participation as it related to marital dissolution and divorce proneness. For the last two waves, the investigators drew heavily on a life course perspective to guide their investigation. Life course theories emphasize the extent to which social behaviors are a product of individuals' relative positions along a developmental continuum. A total of 2,033 cases were assessed across the three waves. Topics addressed in the study include: demographics (i.e., household characteristics, race, income, religion, education, etc.); marital/divorce history; pre- marital courtship history; marital behavior (e.g., division of labor, quarreling/violence); mental and physical health of husband and wife; employment (history, status, attitudes, and aspirations); attitudes about children; satisfaction about various aspects of life (e.g., marriage, home, community, etc.); problem areas in marriage; divorce/separation (including previous discussions of and current behavior, attitudes about divorce); and involvement with friends, relatives, voluntary associations, and the community.

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 1996

Investigators: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

The 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) is a nationally representative panel survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey was designed to provide nationally representative estimates of health care use, expenditures, sources of payments, and insurance coverage for this population. Begun in 1996, MEPS is an ongoing survey, administered to a new panel each year. MEPS comprises four component surveys: the Household Component, the Medical Provider Component, the Insurance Component, and the Nursing Home Component. The Household Component is the core survey and the 1996 Household Component yields comprehensive data that provide national estimates of the level and distribution of health care use and expenditures for calendar year 1996. The Household Component survey collects detailed data on demographic characteristics, health conditions, health status, use of medical care services, charges and payments, access to care, satisfaction with care, health insurance coverage, income, and employment. MEPS is valuable in its ability to link medical expenditures and health insurance data to survey respondents' demographic, employment, economic, health status, utilization of health services, and other characteristics.

Medical Outcome Study, 1986-1992

Investigators: Alvin R. Tarlov John E. Ware, Jr. Kenneth B. Wells Anita L. Stewart Cathy D. Sherbourne Ron D. Hays William H. Rogers Sheldon Greenfield Sandra H. Berry

The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) is a large-scale multi-year survey of patients with prevalent and treatable chronic health conditions, particularly hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and major depression. The MOS, which began in 1986, includes both cross-sectional and longitudinal components. The cross-sectional component describes the impact of chronic diseases on patient well-being as well as the medical care that patients received. The longitudinal component illustrates changes in health conditions over time and explains outcomes in terms of systems of care, provider specialty, styles of practice, and other factors that influence utilization of health care resources. The investigators employed a variety of assessment instruments, such as self-administered questionnaires for patients and clinicians, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, clinical reports, and health examinations. Furthermore, the SF-36 health survey was administered longitudinally, with a sample of 3,588 cases, in order to measure important health and functioning domains. The study samples were drawn from patients receiving health care from 523 solo or group practices in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The objectives of the study were assessment and evaluation of health status--defined in the MOS as the combination of: (1) clinical status, (2) functioning, and (3) well-being. In particular, the MOS investigated four prevalent and treatable chronic health conditions--three medical conditions of hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes as well as one psychological condition of major depression or dysthymia. The MOS examined these health conditions and their outcomes longitudinally in terms of health care, provider specialty, style of practice, and other factors that influenced utilization of health care resources. Among these, the study focused on the comparisons of (1) systems of care--HMOs, large multispecialty groups, and solo and small groups; (2) payment types--parepaid vs. fee-for-service; and (3) clinician specialty--specialist vs. generalist care. This large-scale multi-year study marked several methodological advances. First, the MOS measured the three parameters of health status in parallel, initially and longitudinally. Second, the MOS focused on patients' own personal evaluation of their functional status and well-being--an attempt to meet the recent needs of patient-based assessments of medical outcomes. Consequently, the MOS was the first large-scale study in which patients with different medical and psychiatric conditions completed the same self-administered questionnaires. Finally, the MOS is also distinctive in that it used both standardized patient surveys and clinical evaluations as measures of health status. With its large samples drawn from three urban cities in the U.S., the MOS increased standardization of general health surveys across studies and populations.

Multi-City Study of Factors Affecting Teenagers' Choice of Abortion Clinics, 1980

Investigators: Laurie Schwab Zabin and Samuel D. Clark, Jr.

These abortion clinic data were gathered as part of an investigation of why teenagers coming to family planning, prenatal or abortion clinics for the first time chose a particular clinic and why they (may have) delayed their decision to get professional help. Data were gathered from teens in the spring of 1980 at 40 clinics in eight cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Denver, New York, Pittsburgh, St. Paul and Seattle). The family planning clinic sample included 12 Planned Parenthood affiliates, seven hospital facilities, six health department clinics and six independent clinics. Data were also gathered at four prenatal clinics, four abortion clinics, and one clinic of unknown type. The data from teens interviewed at family planning clinics, prenatal clinics, and abortion clinics have been archived separately as DAAPPP Data Set No. H2, H3, and H4, respectively. The present Data Set (H4) contains data from 255 teens who visited abortion clinics. The four principal reasons teens gave for choosing a particular abortion clinic were: the people there care about teens; they had no choice; someone chose it for them; and they heard good things about the doctors there.

Multi-City Study of Factors Affecting Teenagers' Choice of Family Planning Clinics, 1980

Investigators: Laurie Schwab Zabin and Samuel D. Clark, Jr.

This study explored the reasons why teenage family planning clinic patients choose the particular clinic in which they enroll, as well as the clinic characteristics that may encourage young patients to come for contraceptive help promptly or may contribute to their delay in seeking services. A total of 1,285 never-pregnant teenagers filled out questionnaires during the spring of 1980. All were clients of 31 contraceptive clinics in eight cities (Altanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Denver, New York, Pittsburgh, St. Paul and Seattle). The clinics were composed of 12 Planned Parenthood affiliates, seven hospital facilities, six health department clinics and six independent clinics. Although the clinics did not constitute a probability sample, they did represent a variety of urban clinic types. The five principal reasons teens gave for choosing a particular clinic were: it doesn't tell their parents; the people there care about teens; it is the closest; their friends come to it; and it is the only one they know of.

Multi-City Study of Factors Affecting Teenagers' Choice of Prenatal Clinics, 1980

Investigators: Laurie Schwab Zabin and Samuel D. Clark, Jr.

These prenatal clinic data were gathered as part of an investigation of why teenagers coming to family planning, prenatal or abortion clinics for the first time chose a particular clinic and why they (may have) delayed their decision to get professional help. Data were gathered from teens in the spring of 1980 at 40 clinics in eight cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Denver, New York, Pittsburgh, St. Paul and Seattle). The family planning clinic sample included 12 Planned Parenthood affiliates, seven hospital facilities, six health department clinics and six independent clinics. Data were also gathered at four prenatal clinics, four abortion clinics, and one clinic of unknown type. The data from teens interviewed at family planning clinics, prenatal clinics, and abortion clinics have been archived separately as DAAPPP Data Set No. H2, H3, and H4, respectively. The present Data Set (H3) contains data from 120 teens who visited prenatal clinics. The four principal reasons teens gave for choosing a particular prenatal clinic were: it is the closest; the people there care about teens; they heard good things about the doctors there; and it was the only one available.

NATIONAL SURVEY OF WOMEN, 1991

Investigators: Koray Tanfer

The 1991 National Survey of Women (NSW) was conducted as a follow-up to the 1983 Survey of Unmarried Women (NSU), which examined sexual, contraceptive, and fertility behaviors, and the factors associated with these behaviors in a nationally representative probability sample of 1,314 never-married women between the ages of 20 to 29. The NSW sample consists of two subsamples of women. Women in the first sub-sample (n=929) were first interview ed as part of the NSU in 1983 when they were 20-29 years old and had never been married. These women were subsequently traced an reinterviewed in 1991. The second subsample of women (n=740) was obtained from a new area probability sample of 20-27 year old women, regardless of marital status women in this latter sample were interviewed for the first time in 1991. The combined sample consists of 1,669 women who were 20-37 years old in 1991. In-person interviews were conducted using a standard questionnaire and assessed information regarding respondents' personal back-ground; pregnancy history; sexual initiation and current exposure; current husband or partner; previous marital relationships; non-marital sexual partners; nonsexual romantic partners; health and risk-taking behavior; attitudes, perceptions and knowledge regarding health and contraception; and condom use. A self-administered questionnaire, which assessed self-esteem, locus of control, and attitudes toward marriage, was also completed by respondents. The NSW includes a total of 1,669 cases and 2,236 variables.

NOD Survey of Americans with Disabilities, 1994

Investigators: The National Organization on Disability

This national study of attitudes and experiences of disabled persons is a follow-up to the 1986 ICD Survey of Disabled Americans: Bringing Disabled Americans into the Mainstream. As with the 1986 survey, the 1994 follow-up study asked disabled people about their self-perceptions, how their lives have changed in the past decade, what their experiences have been with employment, education, social life, and what they thought must be done to increase their participation in the mainstream of American society. The 1994 NOD Survey of Americans with Disabilities addressed what it means to be disabled in America by asking a wide range of disabled individuals about the impact of their disability on the quality of their lives, their work, social life, daily activities, education, and personal life. The 1994 study assessed changes in social attitudes and experiences, social activities, and employment opportunities, along with the effects of religion, and the impact of technology and computers that aid disabled people. The survey also focused on barriers that prevented disabled people from working, having a full social life, getting around, or using services; i.e., barriers that excluded them in some way from the mainstream of American life, or prevented them from achieving their goals. The study includes 1,021 cases.