Table of Contents

Component Description

Social relationship, intrinsic to human nature and existence, is a multidimensional concept. The social support section (variable name prefix SSQ) provides personal interview data on emotional, material, and network (the number of members in a network) support. The questions were selected from the Yale Health and Aging Study (MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging) and the Social Network Index – Alameda County Study.

Eligible Sample

All participants 60 year of age and older are asked about social support. In year 2001 the age of participants asked these questions were changed to all participants ages 40 and over.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

Home Interview. In-person.

Data Processing and Editing

Skip pattern and frequency checks.

References

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 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS

SSQ011 - Anyone to help with emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ011
SAS Label:
Anyone to help with emotional support
English Text:
Now I would like to ask a few questions about {your/SP's} friends and family. Can {you/SP} count on anyone to provide {you/him/her} with emotional support such as talking over problems or helping {you/him/her} make a difficult decision?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 3047 3047
2 No 204 3251 SSQ051
3 SP doesn't need help 44 3295 SSQ051
7 Refused 0 3295 SSQ051
9 Don't know 4 3299 SSQ051
. Missing 0 3299

SSQ021A - Spouse gives most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021A
SAS Label:
Spouse gives most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
10 Spouse 1571 1571
77 Refused 0 1571
99 Don't know 2 1573
. Missing 1726 3299

SSQ021B - Daughter gives most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021B
SAS Label:
Daughter gives most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
11 Daughter 969 969
. Missing 2330 3299

SSQ021C - Son gives most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021C
SAS Label:
Son gives most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
12 Son 672 672
. Missing 2627 3299

SSQ021D - Sibling gives most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021D
SAS Label:
Sibling gives most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
13 Sister/brother 537 537
. Missing 2762 3299

SSQ021E - Parent gives most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021E
SAS Label:
Parent gives most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
14 Parent 252 252
. Missing 3047 3299

SSQ021F - Other relative gives emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021F
SAS Label:
Other relative gives emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
15 Other relative 277 277
. Missing 3022 3299

SSQ021G - Neighbors give most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021G
SAS Label:
Neighbors give most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
16 Neighbors 62 62
. Missing 3237 3299

SSQ021H - Co-workers give most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021H
SAS Label:
Co-workers give most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
17 Co-workers 43 43
. Missing 3256 3299

SSQ021I - Church members give emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021I
SAS Label:
Church members give emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
18 Church members 192 192
. Missing 3107 3299

SSQ021J - Club members give most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021J
SAS Label:
Club members give most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
19 Club members 12 12
. Missing 3287 3299

SSQ021K - Professionls give most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021K
SAS Label:
Professionls give most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
20 Professionals 61 61
. Missing 3238 3299

SSQ021L - Friends give most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021L
SAS Label:
Friends give most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
21 Friends 899 899
. Missing 2400 3299

SSQ021M - Others give most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021M
SAS Label:
Others give most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
22 Other 93 93
. Missing 3206 3299

SSQ021N - No one gives most emotional support

Variable Name:
SSQ021N
SAS Label:
No one gives most emotional support
English Text:
In the last 12 months, who was most helpful in providing {you/SP} with emotional support?
English Instructions:
CODE ALL THAT APPLY
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
23 No one 17 17
. Missing 3282 3299

SSQ031 - Needed more support in past year

Variable Name:
SSQ031
SAS Label:
Needed more support in past year
English Text:
[In the last 12 months], could {you/SP} have used more emotional support than {you/s/he} received?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 595 595
2 No 2442 3037 SSQ051
7 Refused 0 3037 SSQ051
9 Don't know 10 3047 SSQ051
. Missing 252 3299

SSQ041 - How much more support needed

Variable Name:
SSQ041
SAS Label:
How much more support needed
English Text:
Would you say that {you/SP} could have used . . .
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 A lot more emotional support 179 179
2 Some emotional support 188 367
3 A little more emotional support 227 594
7 Refused 0 594
9 Don't know 1 595
. Missing 2704 3299

SSQ051 - Anyone to help with financial support

Variable Name:
SSQ051
SAS Label:
Anyone to help with financial support
English Text:
If {you/SP} need{s} some extra help financially, could {you/s/he} count on anyone to help {you/him/her}; for example, by paying any bills, housing costs, hospital visits, or providing {you/him/her} with food or clothes?
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2467 2467
2 No 724 3191
3 Offered help but wouldn't accept it 79 3270
7 Refused 0 3270
9 Don't know 29 3299
. Missing 0 3299

SSQ061 - Number of close friends

Variable Name:
SSQ061
SAS Label:
Number of close friends
English Text:
In general, how many close friends {do you/does SP} have? PROBE: By "close friends" I mean relatives or non-relatives that {you s/he} feel{s} at ease with, can talk to about private matters, and can call on for help.
English Instructions:
ENTER NUMBER OF CLOSE FRIENDS.
Target:
Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 50
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 50 Range of Values 3283 3283
7777 Refused 0 3283
9999 Don't know 16 3299
. Missing 0 3299