Table of Contents

Component Description
Eligible Sample
Interview Setting and Mode of Administration
Data Processing and Editing
Analytic Notes
References
Codebook

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

2005-2006 Data Documentation, Codebook, and Frequencies

Social Support (SSQ_D)

Data File: SSQ_D.xpt

First Published: December 2007

Last Revised: NA

Component Description

The social support section 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. Starting in 2005, an additional question about attendance at church or religious services was added to the social support section.

Eligible Sample

All survey participants 40 or more years of age were eligible. Before 2005, only participants 60 or more years of age were eligible.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

The questions were asked in the home, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing -CAPI (interviewer administered) system.

Data Processing and Editing

Edits were made to ensure the completeness, consistency, and analytic usefulness of the data. The number of times that a respondent reported attending church or religious services (SSD044) was originally reported as number of times per day, week, month, or year and converted to times per year.

Analytic Notes

Since the questions were asked in the household interview, the interview sample weights may be used in their analysis. However, if the data is joined with data from the Mobile Examination Center (MEC), the MEC sample weights should be used.

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

References

Berkman LF, Seeman TE, Albert M, Blazer D, Kahn R, Mohs R, Finch C, Schneider E, Cotman C, McClearn G, et al. High, usual and impaired functioning in community-dwelling older men and women: findings from the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Aging. J Clin Epidemiol. 1993 Oct;46(10):1129-40.

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	2786	2786
2	No	229	3015	SSD044
3	SP doesn't need help	30	3045	SSD044
7	Refused	4	3049	SSD044
9	Don't know	6	3055	SSD044
.	Missing	1	3056

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	1416	1416
77	Refused	0	1416
99	Don't know	4	1420
.	Missing	1636	3056

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	752	752
.	Missing	2304	3056

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	499	499
.	Missing	2557	3056

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	477	477
.	Missing	2579	3056

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	227	227
.	Missing	2829	3056

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	224	224
.	Missing	2832	3056

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	29	29
.	Missing	3027	3056

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	37	37
.	Missing	3019	3056

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	155	155
.	Missing	2901	3056

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	10	10
.	Missing	3046	3056

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	27	27
.	Missing	3029	3056

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	744	744
.	Missing	2312	3056

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	67	67
.	Missing	2989	3056

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	20	20
.	Missing	3036	3056

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	596	596
2	No	2175	2771	SSD044
7	Refused	0	2771	SSD044
9	Don't know	15	2786	SSD044
.	Missing	270	3056

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	159	159
2	Some emotional support	201	360
3	A little more emotional support	235	595
7	Refused	0	595
9	Don't know	1	596
.	Missing	2460	3056

SSD044 - How often attend church per year

Variable Name:: SSD044
SAS Label:: How often attend church per year
English Text:: How often {do you/does SP} attend church or religious services?
English Instructions:: Enter number of days
Target:: Both males and females 40 YEARS - 150 YEARS

Code or Value	Value Description	Count	Cumulative	Skip to Item
0 to 2557	Range of Values	3038	3038
77777	Refused	7	3045
99999	Don't know	10	3055
.	Missing	1	3056

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	2250	2250
2	No	709	2959
3	Offered help but wouldn't accept it	60	3019
7	Refused	6	3025
9	Don't know	30	3055
.	Missing	1	3056

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	3025	3025
7777	Refused	6	3031
9999	Don't know	23	3054
.	Missing	2	3056