Table of Contents

Component Description

The ACASI section on sexual behavior (SXQ) provides information lifetime and current sexual behavior for both men and women. Major items in this section include age at first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, sexual orientation, circumcision status (men) and history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Eligible Sample

Sample person aged 14-59 years were eligible. Several questions in this section are age and gender specific. Mentally impaired individuals or participants who were unable to understand English or Spanish were bit asked these questions. Only data from participants aged 20-59 years are included in this release. Special use data files for participants 14-19 years are available through the NCHS Research Data Center.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

Private room in the mobile examination center.

The NHANES Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI) was conducted in either English or Spanish. The ACASI enables respondents both to hear questions through earphones and read questions on the computer screen. Respondents move at their own speed and touch the screen to indicate their response. No proxy respondents or translators were used in situations when the respondents could not self-report.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

For details on the QA/QC process for this component, please refer to the MEC Interview Manual on the NHANES website.

Data Processing and Editing

Responses to SXD030 (age at first sexual intercourse) that were 9 years or less were grouped and coded as “9 years or younger.”

Analytic Notes

Users are cautioned about the use of SXQ292 and SXQ294 in analyses, especially in analyses that classify respondents by their responses to these questions to describe or compare subgroup characteristics. The sample size for the non-heterosexual subgroups is limited and do not meet the minimum sample size requirements for statistical reliability as noted in the NHANES analytic guidelines1. Even after combining multiple years of data, which is often recommended to estimate rarer conditions within a subgroup, the non-heterosexual subgroups do not meet the minimum sample size. Additionally, there is a high rate of not selecting a specific answer to the questions. That is, selecting ‘don’t know’, ‘refused’, ‘not sure’ or ‘something else’ as a response. This issue has been examined at length at the NCHS Questionnaire Design Research Laboratory (QDRL) recently. Individuals select these answers for a variety of reasons that are well summarized in the report Design, Development and Testing of the NHIS Sexual Identity Question2, specifically in Table 2. For example, respondents from the LGBT community select “something else’ when they use a different sexual identity label than those presented in the response options. However, those who aren’t part of the LGBT community select this answer because they are not familiar with what the response options mean.

Please refer to the Analytic Guidelines for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues on the NHANES website.

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS

SXQ020 - Ever had sexual intercourse

Variable Name:
SXQ020
SAS Label:
Ever had sexual intercourse
English Text:
The next set of questions is about your sexual behavior. By sex, we mean vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Please remember that your answers are strictly confidential. Have you ever had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2549 2549
2 No 88 2637 SXQ280
7 Refused 2 2639 SXQ280
9 Don't know 1 2640 SXQ280
. Missing 352 2992

SXD030 - Age when first had sexual intercourse

Variable Name:
SXD030
SAS Label:
Age when first had sexual intercourse
English Text:
How old were you when you had sex for the first time?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter an age. ENTER AGE IN YEARS.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 59
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
10 to 37 Range of Values 2498 2498
9 9 or younger 39 2537
777 Refused 7 2544
999 Don't know 4 2548
. Missing 444 2992

SXQ100 - #men sex intercourse partners/life

Variable Name:
SXQ100
SAS Label:
#men sex intercourse partners/life
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many men have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 2000 Range of Values 1314 1314
77777 Refused 11 1325
99999 Don't know 1 1326
. Missing 1666 2992

SXQ120 - #men sex intercourse partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ120
SAS Label:
#men sex intercourse partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many men have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 43 Range of Values 1325 1325
77777 Refused 0 1325
99999 Don't know 1 1326
. Missing 1666 2992

SXQ130 - #women sex intercourse partners/life

Variable Name:
SXQ130
SAS Label:
#women sex intercourse partners/life
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many women have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 100 Range of Values 1322 1322
77777 Refused 1 1323
99999 Don't know 3 1326
. Missing 1666 2992

SXQ150 - #women sex intercourse partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ150
SAS Label:
#women sex intercourse partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many women have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 15 Range of Values 1326 1326
77777 Refused 0 1326
99999 Don't know 0 1326
. Missing 1666 2992

SXQ170 - #women sex intercourse partners/life

Variable Name:
SXQ170
SAS Label:
#women sex intercourse partners/life
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many women have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 2000 Range of Values 1201 1201
77777 Refused 9 1210
99999 Don't know 11 1221
. Missing 1771 2992

SXQ190 - #women sex intercourse partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ190
SAS Label:
#women sex intercourse partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many women have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 125 Range of Values 1220 1220
77777 Refused 1 1221
99999 Don't know 0 1221
. Missing 1771 2992

SXQ200 - #men sex intercourse partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ200
SAS Label:
#men sex intercourse partners/lifetime
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many men have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 500 Range of Values 1216 1216
77777 Refused 2 1218
99999 Don't know 1 1219
. Missing 1773 2992

SXQ220 - #men sex intercourse partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ220
SAS Label:
#men sex intercourse partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many men have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 15 Range of Values 1218 1218
77777 Refused 1 1219
99999 Don't know 0 1219
. Missing 1773 2992

SXD230 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXD230
English Instructions:
CHECK ITEM SXD230: IF SP IS FEMALE AND HAS NEVER HAD MALE PARTNER (CODED '00' IN SXQ100), GO TO SXQ260. IF SP IS FEMALE AND TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTNERS IN SXQ.120 AND SXQ150 IS ONE OR LESS, GO TO SXQ260. IF SP IS MALE AND TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTNERS IN SXQ.190 AND SXQ220 IS ONE OR LESS, GO TO SXQ260. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXD240.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS

SXQ241 - #sexual intercourse partners/past mo

Variable Name:
SXQ241
SAS Label:
#sexual intercourse partners/past mo
English Text:
In the past 30 days, with how many people have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER # OF PARTNERS.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 8 Range of Values 486 486
77777 Refused 0 486 SXQ260
99999 Don't know 0 486 SXQ260
. Missing 2506 2992

SXQ250 - #times had sex without condom/past mo

Variable Name:
SXQ250
SAS Label:
#times had sex without condom/past mo
English Text:
In the past 30 days, how many times have you had sex without using a condom?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER # OF TIMES.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 9999
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 40 Range of Values 392 392
77777 Refused 1 393
99999 Don't know 2 395
. Missing 2597 2992

SXQ260 - Doctor ever told you had genital herpes

Variable Name:
SXQ260
SAS Label:
Doctor ever told you had genital herpes
English Text:
Has a doctor or other health care professional ever told you that you had genital herpes?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 94 94
2 No 2448 2542
7 Refused 0 2542
9 Don't know 2 2544
. Missing 448 2992

SXQ265 - Doctor ever told you had genital warts

Variable Name:
SXQ265
SAS Label:
Doctor ever told you had genital warts
English Text:
Has a doctor or other health care professional ever told you that you had genital warts?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 128 128
2 No 2415 2543
7 Refused 0 2543
9 Don't know 1 2544
. Missing 448 2992

SXQ270 - Doctor ever told you had gonorrhea

Variable Name:
SXQ270
SAS Label:
Doctor ever told you had gonorrhea
English Text:
In the past 12 months, has a doctor or other health care professional told you that you had gonorrhea, sometimes called GC or clap?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 14 14
2 No 2529 2543
7 Refused 0 2543
9 Don't know 0 2543
. Missing 449 2992

SXQ272 - Doctor ever told you had chlamydia

Variable Name:
SXQ272
SAS Label:
Doctor ever told you had chlamydia
English Text:
In the past 12 months, has a doctor or other health care professional told you that you had chlamydia?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 23 23
2 No 2516 2539
7 Refused 0 2539
9 Don't know 3 2542
. Missing 450 2992

SXQ280 - Are you circumcised or uncircumcised

Variable Name:
SXQ280
SAS Label:
Are you circumcised or uncircumcised
English Text:
Are you circumcised or uncircumcised?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD SXQ1 - CLINICAL SKETCH OF CIRCUMCISED PENIS. HAND CARD SXQ2 - CLINICAL SKETCH OF UNCIRCUMCISED PENIS. VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select circumcised, uncircumcised.
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Circumcised 919 919
2 Uncircumcised 341 1260
7 Refused 1 1261
9 Don't know 5 1266
. Missing 1726 2992

SXQ292 - Describe sexual orientation (male)

Variable Name:
SXQ292
SAS Label:
Describe sexual orientation (male)
English Text:
Do you think of yourself as...
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Heterosexual or straight (that is, sexually attracted only to women); homosexual or gay (that is, sexually attracted only to men); bisexual (that is, sexually attracted to men and women); something else; or you're not sure?
Target:
Males only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 heterosexual or straight (attracted to women) 1199 1199
2 homosexual or gay (attracted to men) 25 1224
3 bisexual (attracted to men and women) 13 1237
4 Something else, or 0 1237
5 Not sure? 22 1259
7 Refused 1 1260
9 Don't know 6 1266
. Missing 1726 2992

SXQ294 - Describe sexual orientation (female)

Variable Name:
SXQ294
SAS Label:
Describe sexual orientation (female)
English Text:
Do you think of yourself as...
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Heterosexual or straight (that is, sexually attracted only to men); homosexual or lesbian (that is, sexually attracted only to women); bisexual (that is, sexually attracted to men and women); something else; or you're not sure?
Target:
Females only 20 YEARS - 59 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 heterosexual or straight (attracted to men) 1287 1287
2 homosexual or lesbian (attracted to women) 19 1306
3 bisexual (attracted to men and women) 25 1331
4 Something else, or 5 1336
5 Not sure? 22 1358
7 Refused 3 1361
9 Don't know 6 1367
. Missing 1625 2992