Table of Contents

Component Description

The ACASI section on sexual behavior (SXQYTH) provides information on lifetime and current sexual behavior for both males and females. 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

Survey participants, aged 14-69 years old, were eligible. Mentally impaired individuals or participants who were unable to understand English or Spanish were not asked these questions.

Several questions in this section are age and gender specific.. Only data from participants aged 14-19 years old are included in this file. The data files for participants 20-69 years old are publicly available through the NHANES website.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

The sexual behavior questionnaire was administered, to survey participants 14-69 years old, during the physical examination at the examination center, in a private room, using the Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI) system. The ACASI was conducted in either English or Spanish. The ACASI enables respondents to hear questions through earphones as well as read questions on the computer screen. Respondents move at their own speed and touch the screen to indicate their responses. No proxy respondents or translators were used in situations where 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 SXD031 (age at first sexual intercourse) that were 9 years or less were grouped and coded as “9 years or younger.”

Responses to SXD171 (# of female partners) that were 2000 or more partners were grouped and coded as “2000 or more” partners.

Analytic Notes

Questions were slightly modified in the second year of collection. Questions originally specified three types of sex; vaginal, anal and oral. This proved to be confusing for respondents, particularly males who may have thought they had to have had all three types of sex in order to answer yes. These qualifiers were removed so that questions asked about “sex” but did not specify which types.

Analysts should keep in mind that the NHANES policy is that if a person wasn't asked a question it should be missing. If is up to the analyst to recode to zero if that is what they want to do. For example, if a respondent reported that they had zero lifetime sex partners, they wouldn't be asked the number of sex partners in the past 12 months. Since the respondent does not receive the question about partners in the past 12 months, the data will be coded as missing for this variable. Analysts may want to recode this to “0”.

For 18 and 19 year olds:
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.

Exam sample weights should be used for analyses. Please refer to the Analytic Guidelines for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues on the NHANES website. The Analytic Guidelines are available 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 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXAISC - Interview Status Code

Variable Name:
SXAISC
SAS Label:
Interview Status Code
English Text:
Interview Status Code
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Complete 842 842
2 Partial 1 843
3 Not done 76 919 End of Section
. Missing 0 919

SXQ021 - Ever had vaginal, anal, or oral sex

Variable Name:
SXQ021
SAS Label:
Ever had vaginal, anal, or oral sex
English Text:
The next set of questions is about your sexual behavior. By sex, we mean vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Please remember that your answers are strictly confidential. Have you ever had vaginal, anal, or oral sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select yes, no.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 408 408
2 No 432 840 SXQ280
7 Refused 2 842 SXQ280
9 Don't know 1 843 SXQ280
. Missing 76 919

SXD031 - How old when first had sex

Variable Name:
SXD031
SAS Label:
How old when first had sex
English Text:
When you first had vaginal, anal, or oral sex, how old were you?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter an age. ENTER AGE IN YEARS. HARD EDIT: SXQ.031 must be equal to or less than current age.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
9 to 19
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
10 to 19 Range of Values 399 399
9 9 years or younger 7 406
77 Refused 2 408
99 Don't know 0 408
. Missing 511 919

SXQ101 - #male sex partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ101
SAS Label:
#male sex partners/lifetime
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many males have you had vaginal, anal, or oral sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 100 Range of Values 192 192
77777 Refused 3 195
99999 Don't know 0 195
. Missing 724 919

SXQ110 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ110
English Instructions:
IF SP NEVER HAD MALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXQ101), GO TO SXQ130. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ350.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ350 - #male oral sex partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ350
SAS Label:
#male oral sex partners/lifetime
English Text:
With how many of these males have you had only oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ350 must be equal to or less than SXQ101.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 30 Range of Values 191 191
77777 Refused 0 191
99999 Don't know 0 191
. Missing 728 919

SXQ130 - #female sex partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ130
SAS Label:
#female sex partners/lifetime
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many females have you had sex?
English Instructions:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please enter a number or enter zero for none. ENTER NUMBER.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 6 Range of Values 195 195
77777 Refused 0 195
99999 Don't know 0 195
. Missing 724 919

SXD171 - #female sex partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXD171
SAS Label:
#female sex partners/lifetime
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many females have you had vaginal, anal, or oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 2000
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 60 Range of Values 213 213
2000 2000 or more 0 213
77777 Refused 0 213
99999 Don't know 0 213
. Missing 706 919

SXQ390 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ390
English Instructions:
IF SP NEVER HAD FEMALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXD171), GO TO SXQ410. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ400.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ400 - #female oral sex partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ400
SAS Label:
#female oral sex partners/lifetime
English Text:
With how many of these females have you had only oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ400 must be equal to or less than SXD171.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 18 Range of Values 208 208
77777 Refused 0 208
99999 Don't know 2 210
. Missing 709 919

SXQ410 - #male sex partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ410
SAS Label:
#male sex partners/lifetime
English Text:
In your lifetime, with how many males have you had anal or oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 45 Range of Values 213 213
77777 Refused 0 213
99999 Don't know 0 213
. Missing 706 919

SXQ210 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ210
English Instructions:
IF SP NEVER HAD MALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXQ410), GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ230. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ430.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ430 - #male oral sex partners/lifetime

Variable Name:
SXQ430
SAS Label:
#male oral sex partners/lifetime
English Text:
With how many of these males have you had only oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ430 must be equal to or less than SXQ410.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 4 Range of Values 8 8
77777 Refused 1 9
99999 Don't know 0 9
. Missing 910 919

SXQ230 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ230
English Instructions:
IF SP IS MALE, GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ500. IF SP IS FEMALE AND HAD NO MALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXQ101),GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ460. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ450.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ450 - #male sex partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ450
SAS Label:
#male sex partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many males have you had vaginal, anal, or oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ450 must be equal to or less than SXQ101.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 10 Range of Values 190 190
77777 Refused 1 191
99999 Don't know 0 191
. Missing 728 919

SXQ460 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ460
English Instructions:
IF SP DID NOT HAVE ANY MALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXQ450), GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ480. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ470.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ470 - #male oral sex partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ470
SAS Label:
#male oral sex partners/year
English Text:
With how many of these males have you had only oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ470 must be equal to or less than SXQ450.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 3 Range of Values 167 167
77777 Refused 0 167
99999 Don't know 0 167
. Missing 752 919

SXQ480 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ480
English Instructions:
IF SP DID NOT HAVE ANY FEMALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXQ130, GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ500. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ490.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ490 - #female sex partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ490
SAS Label:
#female sex partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many females have you had sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ490 must be equal to or less than SXQ130.
Target:
Females only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 6 Range of Values 8 8
77777 Refused 0 8
99999 Don't know 0 8
. Missing 911 919

SXQ500 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ500
English Instructions:
IF SP IS FEMALE, GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ580. IF SP IS MALE AND NEVER HAD FEMALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXD171), GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ540. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ510.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ510 - #female sex partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ510
SAS Label:
#female sex partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many females have you had vaginal, anal, or oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ510 must be equal to or less than SXD171.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 25 Range of Values 209 209
77777 Refused 1 210
99999 Don't know 0 210
. Missing 709 919

SXQ520 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ520
English Instructions:
IF SP HAD NO FEMALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXQ510), GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ540. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ530.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ530 - #female oral sex partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ530
SAS Label:
#female oral sex partners/year
English Text:
With how many of these females have you had only oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ530 must be equal to or less than SXQ510.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 10 Range of Values 181 181
77777 Refused 1 182
99999 Don't know 0 182
. Missing 737 919

SXQ540 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ540
English Instructions:
IF SP NEVER HAD MALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXQ410), GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ580. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ550.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ550 - #male sex partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ550
SAS Label:
#male sex partners/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, with how many males have you had anal or oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ550 must be equal to or less than SXQ410.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 15 Range of Values 48 48
77777 Refused 1 49
99999 Don't know 0 49
. Missing 870 919

SXQ560 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ560
English Instructions:
IF SP HAD NO MALE PARTNER (CODED '0' IN SXQ550, GO TO CHECK ITEM SXQ580. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ570.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ570 - #male oral sex partners/year

Variable Name:
SXQ570
SAS Label:
#male oral sex partners/year
English Text:
With how many of these males have you had only oral sex?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT: SXQ570 must be equal to or less than SXQ550.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 2 Range of Values 4 4
77777 Refused 0 4
99999 Don't know 0 4
. Missing 915 919

SXQ580 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ580
English Instructions:
IF SP HAD NO PARTNER IN PAST 12 MONTHS (CODED '0' IN SXQ450 AND SXQ490 FOR FEMALES, OR CODED '0' IN SXQ510 AND SXQ550 FOR MALES), GO TO SXQ260. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ590.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ590 - #sex partners five years older/year

Variable Name:
SXQ590
SAS Label:
#sex partners five years older/year
English Text:
Of the persons you had sex with in the past 12 months, how many were five or more years older than you?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT FOR FEMALES: SXQ590 must be equal to or less than (sum of SXQ450 and SXQ490). HARD EDIT FOR MALES: SXQ590 must be equal to or less than (sum of SXQ510 and SXQ550).
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 16 Range of Values 357 357
77777 Refused 1 358
99999 Don't know 0 358
. Missing 561 919

SXQ600 - #sex partners five years younger/year

Variable Name:
SXQ600
SAS Label:
#sex partners five years younger/year
English Text:
Of the persons you had sex with in the past 12 months, how many were five or more years younger than you?
English Instructions:
Enter a number or enter zero for none. HARD EDIT FOR FEMALES: SXQ600 must be equal to or less than (sum of SXQ450 and SXQ490). HARD EDIT FOR MALES: SXQ600 must be equal to or less than (sum of SXQ510 and SXQ550). HARD EDIT FOR FEMALES (combined): (sum of SXQ590 and SXQ600) must be equal to or less than (sum of SXQ450 and SXQ490). HARD EDIT FOR MALES (combined): (sum of SXQ590 and SXQ600) must be equal to or less than (sum of SXQ510 and SXQ550).
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 5 Range of Values 357 357
77777 Refused 1 358
99999 Don't know 0 358
. Missing 561 919

SXQ610 - #times had vaginal or anal sex/year

Variable Name:
SXQ610
SAS Label:
#times had vaginal or anal sex/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, about how many times have you had vaginal or anal sex?
English Instructions:
Select one of the following choices.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Never 37 37
1 Once 34 71
2 2-11 times 130 201
3 12-51 times 86 287
4 52-103 times 38 325
5 104-364 times 29 354
6 365 times or more 2 356
77 Refused 0 356
99 Don't know 2 358
. Missing 561 919

SXQ245 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
SXQ245
English Instructions:
IF SP DID NOT HAVE VAGINAL OR ANAL SEX (CODED AS '0' IN SXQ610), GO TO SXQ260. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE WITH SXQ251.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS

SXQ251 - #times had sex without condom/year

Variable Name:
SXQ251
SAS Label:
#times had sex without condom/year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, about how often have you had vaginal or anal sex without using a condom?
English Instructions:
Select one of the following choices.
Target:
Both males and females 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Never 120 120
2 Less than half of the time 96 216
3 About half of the time 27 243
4 Not always, but more than half of the time 38 281
5 Always 38 319
77 Refused 0 319
99 Don't know 0 319
. Missing 600 919

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 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 4 4
2 No 401 405
7 Refused 0 405
9 Don't know 2 407
. Missing 512 919

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 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 3 3
2 No 403 406
7 Refused 0 406
9 Don't know 1 407
. Missing 512 919

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 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 4 4
2 No 403 407
7 Refused 0 407
9 Don't know 0 407
. Missing 512 919

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 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 12 12
2 No 395 407
7 Refused 0 407
9 Don't know 0 407
. Missing 512 919

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:
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SP: Please select circumcised, uncircumcised.
Target:
Males only 14 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Circumcised 306 306
2 Uncircumcised 138 444
7 Refused 7 451
9 Don't know 2 453
. Missing 466 919

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Heterosexual or straight (attracted to women) 140 140
2 Homosexual or gay (attracted to men) 3 143
3 Bisexual (attracted to men and women) 0 143
4 Something else 1 144
5 Not sure 1 145
7 Refused 0 145
9 Don't know 0 145
. Missing 774 919

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 18 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Heterosexual or straight (attracted to men) 103 103
2 Homosexual or lesbian (attracted to women) 2 105
3 Bisexual (attracted to men and women) 3 108
4 Something else 0 108
5 Not sure 3 111
7 Refused 0 111
9 Don't know 0 111
. Missing 808 919